Integrating chicks and hens

[Nugget_123]

I have a batch of hand raised 11 week old chicks and five adult hens. They have been in the same run but not able to get to each other for two weeks now. How or when can I introduce them?

 

[DobieLover]

Please post pictures of your run.
Are there lots of things to perch/jump on, dry organic litter to scratch through, places to dust and sun bathe, things to hide behind?
If so, remove the barrier and let them intermingle.
If not, add clutter and litter to the run THEN remove the barrier and let them intermingle.

 

[Nugget_123]

Please post pictures of your run.
Are there lots of things to perch/jump on, dry organic litter to scratch through, places to dust and sun bathe, things to hide behind?
If so, remove the barrier and let them intermingle.
If not, add clutter and litter to the run THEN remove the barrier and let them intermingle.

There are a few things but not much. I will add some. Thank you! Do they need to be supervised?

 

[DobieLover]

There are a few things but not much. I will add some. Thank you! Do they need to be supervised?

For the first hour or so.

 

[Mrs. K]

Instead of removing the barrier, lift the barrier up high enough the littles can move into the big girls territory, but escape back into the safety zone if needed. I generally let my big girls out of the run, lift the barrier, sit and wait until someone gets brave enough to come out, after a bit, give a mock chase so they realize they can get back to safety under the barrier.

Then let the big girls back in.

I do have enough space, and I do have a lot of clutter, and I do have multiple feed bowls - I keep a feed bowl in the safety zone for a while.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

Instead of removing the barrier, lift the barrier up high enough the littles can move into the big girls territory, but escape back into the safety zone if needed. I generally let my big girls out of the run, lift the barrier, sit and wait until someone gets brave enough to come out, after a bit, give a mock chase so they realize they can get back to safety under the barrier.

While this works for young chicks at 11 weeks they're realistically too big to easily fit in a gap small enough fully exclude hens. I once found my heaviest hen inside my brooder with only a 3" wide gap to squeeze through, and my 3-week-old chicks all standing outside protesting at her.