Introducing 2 chicks to 3 hens

[CinnamonQueen]

I have 2 11 week old pullets and I want to introduce them to 3 one year old hens. I have let the chicks out by the coop so they can see each other. I have also put the chicks in the coop w/o the hens so they can explore it.
Recently I started letting them free range together under supervision. As long as they didn't get close, they were fine. But if the chicks get too close, our Leghorn hen Snowball will give them a stink eye, then Honey (RIR hen) will peck them and chase them away. Since Cinnamon (RIR hen) doesn't do anything, I decided to experiment. I put her in the coop with the chicks. She started to chase the babies around. I quickly let the chicks out. The poor things were terrified. When they are not free ranging, they are seperated and don't see each other.
Anything I should do differently? And how can I speed up the process a little more? Thanks in advance.

 

[sourland]

Until the young pullets are nearly as large as the adult hens it will be difficult to integrate them.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

I would have waited if they weren't growing like crazy and getting too big for their box! I've already moved them once.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Anyone else?

 

[Smarcebird]

Be patient. They can be real evil to the newbies. Had a couple pecked to death - ugly. Wait till they are almost the same size. Good luck.

 

[moetrout]

"When they are not free ranging, they are seperated and don't see each other."

One key thng I do when wanting to integrate is make sure they live side by side and can see each other all day long. I currently have 2 coops and their runs share one side of the fence. They can get up close and check each other out. Free ranging them together is a very good idea too. It is especially important to free range them in the evenings. If you do this enough you may start seeing the new chicks going into the other coop with the big birds for the evening. I added 6 young birds to 6 old last year. Just as I outlined they were in adjacent runs all summer. As the chicks got bigger I free ranged them together in the evenings. Then one evening 2 of the young birds were missing.....sort of. We found them in the "big house". The next evening the rest joined. I got lucky that it all happened in 2 days, but in reality it was a summer of raising them side by side that helped. Good luck and be patient!

 

[CinnamonQueen]

"When they are not free ranging, they are seperated and don't see each other." One key thng I do when wanting to integrate is make sure they live side by side and can see each other all day long. I currently have 2 coops and their runs share one side of the fence. They can get up close and check each other out. Free ranging them together is a very good idea too. It is especially important to free range them in the evenings. If you do this enough you may start seeing the new chicks going into the other coop with the big birds for the evening. I added 6 young birds to 6 old last year. Just as I outlined they were in adjacent runs all summer. As the chicks got bigger I free ranged them together in the evenings. Then one evening 2 of the young birds were missing.....sort of. We found them in the "big house". The next evening the rest joined. I got lucky that it all happened in 2 days, but in reality it was a summer of raising them side by side that helped. Good luck and be patient!

So the hens accepted the babies at night? No pecking?

 

[CinnamonQueen]

I will also take your advice and extend the coop a little so they can see each other.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

We are getting a little play house to put the babies in. They will hopefully be able to see but not touch for a few weeks. Then, I am considering quietly slipping the younger ones in at night. Has anyone done this, and did the hens accept them?

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Now, my babies are 16 weeks old and as big as my smallest hen, a Leghorn. I've tried to slip the younger ones in at night but I always find them hiding behind the feeder in the morning. I may try this again, but keep the babies in a little longer under my supervision- normally I take them out b/c I will be leaving the house shortly after that. Or, since the babies' house is unfamiliar to the hens and they won't know who's boss, I may put the hens in the babies' house, one at a time. I'm not sure, but I have to put them together somehow.