Introduce to flock soon?

[cjweaver13]

We have 8 chicks we hatched that are 5 weeks today and staying in a large watermelon box like you see at the supermarket. It's getting tight and we don't necessarily have the space or resources to build a small coop for just a few weeks. When wokd be the best time to introduce them without as high a risk of injury to them by the main flock of 16? Also don't want them getting any more rambunctious in this box with space limited...

 

[azygous]

Now is the time. Actually, two weeks ago was the time. The earlier the better because adult chickens aren't as concerned about new chicks as they are adult chickens invading their world.

Is there a reason why they would need their own coop? Isn't the existing coop large enough? How large is the run? Is it secure? You can make a temporary enclosure for the chicks to use as a safe refuge during the day. If you cut 4" x 7" openings (more than one) into this enclosure, the chicks can come and go and the large chickens won't be able to get in. Food and water for the chicks should be kept inside. The chicks and adults should be able to see one another.

After the chicks have had a week to get used to the big chickens, and they the chicks, you can move the chicks into the coop with the adults.

Knowing the size of the coop, the number of chickens in the flock, and the size of the run are important if we're going to help you.

This is my chick enclosure with the chick openings which happpen to be closed until these chicks grew a bit. I usually let chicks mingle with the adult flock at age three weeks.

 

[cjweaver13]

Only reason of needing own coop is I seen most people recommend to wait until up to 10-12 weeks when they're about the same size as the adults.

Coop is big enough, but not big enough to build an enclosure within and have room for the adults comfortably still. Coop 8x8 and run 15x10. I have cattle wire all around and hardware cloth around the first 3 feet, but don't trust it enough during the night when the rest are locked in.

 

[Justso]

I had a 4' barrier inside one of my coops that the 3 wk olds promptly got around or above, horrors!
Not really, everyone was fine after a little fussing and a couple of pecked combs on the littles. I did right then create a tiny door for them to run in and out of, it was important to let the littles have a chance to get away from the big chickens and have their own food and water. Azygous has a nice setup, mine was a little more trailer park ( implying that it was a lot more simple, not trashy)