Integrating New Chicks

[zackcesati]

Hello everyone, getting 4 new chicks to raise and curious for some tips to integrate them to our current "flock" of 1 hen, dunno if this is the right thread for it, but looking for any advice. Would the best thing to do be to separate the 1 current chicken into her own pen in the run to get them comfortable with them?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You're adding 4 newbies (ages) to one hen (age)?
If possible put the hen in a wire cage with food/water, put the wire cage in the coop with the chicks. See how the interaction goes for a few days. It's the usual See but No Touch Method. If your coop is large enough, you could just add extra feeder/waterers and hiding spots for the chicks to get away from the hen if she decides to go after them. You may want to wait until they're at least feathered and bigger in size, with 4 against 1, she may get distracted with them.

 

[zackcesati]

You're adding 4 newbies (ages) to one hen (age)?
If possible put the hen in a wire cage with food/water, put the wire cage in the coop with the chicks. See how the interaction goes for a few days. It's the usual See but No Touch Method. If your coop is large enough, you could just add extra feeder/waterers and hiding spots for the chicks to get away from the hen if she decides to go after them. You may want to wait until they're at least feathered and bigger in size, with 4 against 1, she may get distracted with them.

Will definitely try this once they are feathered and bigger, thank you so much

 

[aart]

How old are the chicks you are getting?
Please post dimensions and pics of the cop and run your one hen is living in.

I like to integrate chicks when young, much easier than when they are older.
But it does take some work to get thing set up well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/