Integrating different age chick's

[lovescakes]

I had 3, 4 year old chickens . aragon got two of them. We just got 25 new chick's this week. My last big chicken is a barred rock. She is very lovely alone. Wondering if she might adopt since of the chick's? Should I introduce them now or later?

Also my husband felt so sorry for the barredrock being alone that he went and got a welsummer pullet that's about 6 or 8 weeks. Now I don't know if the welsummer will integrate with the barred rock or if I should put it with the chick's.

 

[jo_crouch]

That hen isn't likely to accept those chicks unless she is broody. Even if she tolerated them she will have a tough time with that many. Put the pullet after shes seen her a while, in with her. An 8 week old pullet and day old chicks is not a good combination. Plus those young chicks need some heat . . .

 

[Pork Pie]

That hen isn't likely to accept those chicks unless she is broody. Even if she tolerated them she will have a tough time with that many. Put the pullet after shes seen her a while, in with her. An 8 week old pullet and day old chicks is not a good combination. Plus those young chicks need some heat . . .

Agreed. Unfortunately, the 8 week old chick will not be great company for your hen for a good few months. I'd suggest taking a look at these links and picking and choosing what approaches may work for you.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126547/topic-of-the-week-integrating-chicks-into-an-adult-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1069595/introducing-chicks-to-adults#post_16276224