Integrating new chicks with older hens.

[DarLynn Chickens]

We are new to raising chickens. We are starting our flock with two laying hens that someone gave us. And we are considering expanding our flock to include some store bought baby chicks. Is this a good idea, and what if anything should we do so that we have a successful integration? Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

You could either get chicks or check craigslist for adults or chicks as well. So when adding chicks you need to make sure they're at least 8 weeks old and then slowly integrate them (this typically takes a week roughly). Keep in mind no matter how hard you try the new chickens will get picked on but the slower integration can minimize it so that nobody gets hurt. If you go ahead and get chickens that are already old enough to be put in with the two you have you'll need to quarantine them (keep them in the house or garage) away from the chickens you already have for about a week and then start integration the same way as you would with chicks. This is to make sure that if the new chickens are sick or have any parasites etc. it won't get passed onto your current birds. You should read about the play pen method for integrating chickens, I highly recommend it and have used it for all my chickens.