Integrating Chicks?

[GrayChickens]

I have 3 silkie Chicks about 8 wks old . How long do I have to wait before I can put them in the coop with my other Orpingtons. And how would one go about doing that exactly? Know there is a whole process an everything to it ...

 

[Matilda Belle]

I put 8 week old chicks out with my silkie adults and they were fine. As long as they have space to run away from the bigger birds, they should be okay. There will be quite a bit of pecking. Just closely watch them for the first couple days to see how they interact. You should intervene if there is ever any blood. I've never had that happen with my silkies.

 

[aart]

I have 3 silkie Chicks about 8 wks old . How long do I have to wait before I can put them in the coop with my other Orpingtons. And how would one go about doing that exactly? Know there is a whole process an everything to it ...

I would have brooded them right in the coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

....but here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[The Kooky Kiwi]

Agree with posters above.

With younger birds being introduced there will be a period of "putting them in their place" but, in my experience, this is often less severe than it is with introducing grown birds so I do prefer to introduce them younger rather than older.

I have two feeding/watering stations in my run - each one being on opposite ends of the coop and with the chicken house in the middle (conveniently providing a visual block to stop anyone from controlling both ends from the middle lol). I find this works well for both new introductions and keeping peace in the existing flock.

Providing lots of space and dodge holes is always beneficial but be careful to avoid having places where chickens can be bullied into with no escape.