Integrating chicks with adult flock

[HomeGardenGirl]

At what age can chicks start to be in flock with their broody mama still protecting them? My 3 week olds and their momma hen escaped from their seperate run & joined the main flock this afternoon while I was gone and it appears to have been uneventful. They have paralell runs so they can see but not touch each other...except apparently they can get out when they want to!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would call that a win, and keep on with it.

 

[song of joy]

I usually remove barriers and let the momma hen and her chicks mingle with the rest of the flock when her chicks are 7 to 10 days old.

It's best to let her begin to integrate them when the chicks are 1 to 2 weeks old, as she's very protective of them at that stage and they tend to stay close to her. Sometimes people wait too long, which means the hen is much less protective of the chicks or she is entirely done "mothering" them.

 

[RWise]

My broodies take their clutch out in the flock at 2-3 days old even in the snow, all is good, never had an issue. And to roost at 4 weeks old, I add chicks without momas at 5 weeks old, but only because of cats, or they would be out sooner.
I luv watching the rooster feeding them, and he holds his head so proud!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I let my hens hatch with the flock and decide when to bring the chicks off the nest. They are with the flock from Day 1.

To me the danger time is not when the chicks are protected by the broody hen, it's after the hen weans the chicks and leaves them on their own to make their way with the flock. I've never had a problem with this, by raising the chicks with the flock she has handled integration and I have a lot of room. The chicks handle their pecking order issues by avoiding the other adults. But if your space is tight the chicks may have trouble with pecking order issues. A lot of handling integration and pecking order issues comes down to how much room you have.

 

[HomeGardenGirl]

I let my hens hatch with the flock and decide when to bring the chicks off the nest. They are with the flock from Day 1.

To me the danger time is not when the chicks are protected by the broody hen, it's after the hen weans the chicks and leaves them on their own to make their way with the flock. I've never had a problem with this, by raising the chicks with the flock she has handled integration and I have a lot of room. The chicks handle their pecking order issues by avoiding the other adults. But if your space is tight the chicks may have trouble with pecking order issues. A lot of handling integration and pecking order issues comes down to how much room you have.

we have lots of room. huge run area & lots of cover/hiding places.