Intergrating chicks

[Fancypants1]

I am thinking about getting 3 - month old chicks and was wondering how difficult would it be to integrate them into my flock of 7 adult hens when it comes time? Also, they will be on grower feed for awhile and the others need layer pellets - how do I feed them all different types of food once they are all in the run together?

Or should I pass on the chicks and just keep things as is? The chicks I am able to get are EE's and I have always wanted some

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Feed is easy - simply feed everyone grower ration and put out oyster shell for the older hens to take as a replacement for the calcium they would have gotten from layer ration.
Are you planning to quarantine the new birds? If so and if done properly that will add a month to the age of the birds before you have to worry about integration.
Azygous had a recent post about integrating chicks in this thread that might be helpful https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/968870/adding-8-chicks-to-a-5-hen-flock#post_15093474. This starts a bit earlier than most suggested integration methods - the difference being most of the other posts regarding integration methods suggest waiting until the younger birds are quite a bit older (12+ weeks) - but they still use the "see but don't touch" introduction period before allowing the birds to physically mingle.

 

[Fancypants1]

Great info about the feed.

Yes, they will be in our garage under a heat lamp until they are big enough and feathered out enough. I just added a 6 month old pullet to the rest of the girls with success (after her being in our basement for 2 months). I did the see but not touch method (new bird crated in the run for two weeks) and they are all living happily together now. I just didn't know if the little ones would have a harder time with being so much smaller and getting pecked on.

I want the EE's since they are hard to come by - I'm just not sure if I want to take on the responsibility of chicks again - I'm confused!!!