Integrating new chicks into my young flock

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It usually takes a few supervised outings until I feel more comfortable letting everyone stay together. The first day is usually a test. If after a week or so the rough stuff stops and the smaller ones can get away generally it's okay. I just wouldn't lock them up together yet.

 

[wildgreen]

It usually takes a few supervised outings until I feel more comfortable letting everyone stay together. The first day is usually a test. If after a week or so the rough stuff stops and the smaller ones can get away generally it's okay. I just wouldn't lock them up together yet.

Awesome, thank you so much!

 

[Companihen]

Appreciated reading this... I am in a similar situation and wonder how you are getting on now?

I have 7x 8 week old chicks (3 polish which are 2 cockerels one pullet, 1x silkie cockerel, 1x Mille fleur cockerel, 1x Miller fleur silkie x hen and 1 silkie x hen) I had 2 frizzle chicks a cock and a hen which a fox killed. So I purchased from a local breeder 2 frizzle hens which are supposedly 12 weeks old but I can't believe that as they ate tiny, about a third of the size of my 8wk Olds. So far they have been living next to each other for 1 week with only chicken wire separating them.

Wondering when to put together, there's a lot of interest through the chicken wire and some pecking too.

I also have 7 big grown up hens..... which need integrating with the chicks too...
They've been living next to the chicks for 4 weeks now

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

3 polish which are 2 cockerels

I see Pullets in your pictures.

 

[Companihen]

I see Pullets in your pictures.

I would love them to all be pullets but I'm sure 2 of the polish are cockerels... lots of reddening around their faces and 1 has crowed. They fight and tidbit a lot.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would love them to all be pullets but I'm sure 2 of the polish are cockerels... lots of reddening around their faces and 1 has crowed. They fight and tidbit a lot.

Which one crowed? They look exactly like my buff laced Pullets looked at 8 weeks.

 

[Companihen]

Sorry I've hijacked this thread a bit! This one crowed. This is the pic of 'him' today. And he really fights with his brother... pics of him to follow

 

[Companihen]

The 'brother'. Paler of the slightly larger suspect cockrels. He hasn't crowed but has reddened all over his face too. Not sure if my pics show that. I would love them both to be pullets. They're slightly bigger than the third... I'll get some pics of her too

 

[Companihen]

Pullet...? She has no reddening on face, slightly smaller and doesn't fight really

And a few pics trying to show all 3. They are 8 weeks old today and these pics are all from today

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would expect to see a red comb starting, but I've never had a cockerel before, only pullets. Sparing at that age is done by both sexes, but if its crowing than it must be a male. Thanks for sharing your photos. I see the one you said crowed is feathering out a bit darker so perhaps that's a sign to go by.