Introducing a new 7-8 week old

[Henloving]

I have 5 chicks between 6 and 8 weeks old and realized my 6.5 week old RR is a roo, which I can’t keep. I want to purchase (if I can find one) another 7 or 8 week old chick (or two) and introduce it to the existing 5 I’m currently raising. They’re inside at night bc it’s too cold (50 degrees) to be outside yet at night. My question: Will they attack the new one if I try and introduce one that want raised with them? THANKS for your input!!

 

[kattabelly]

50°F definitely isn't too cold for 6-8 week chicks, assuming they're more or less fully feathered and will be dry and out of the wind.

 

[Henloving]

50°F definitely isn't too cold for 6-8 week chicks, assuming they're more or less fully feathered and will be dry and out of the wind.

Thank you SO much for saying this. I did happen just now to get 2 new chicks who are 6.5 weeks old. They still aren’t *fully feathered on their backs (beneath that area you don’t typically see bc they’re covered by the wings), so I think I will try and bring a heat lamp into their outside house. It’s confounding how different people’s opinions are about weathering the cold at night. Thanks again!

 

[kattabelly]

If their wing feathers cover that area then they won't lose much heat from it. Rather than a heat lamp I'd maybe just give them something like a cardboard box with a bit of hay or straw or similar to help keep them warm. The only thing I'd worry about is if you're introducing them to other chicks, will they be able to huddle somewhere warm if they won't all sleep together at first or is there a risk they could end up getting chased into a cold or draughty spot? Having them all in the outside coop for their first night together might hopefully make things easier as the new chicks won't be coming into a space that the others see as "theirs". Do you have plenty of clutter for them to stay out of sight at times if there's some chasing and pecking while they get used to each other?

When we had a storm here a couple of weeks ago it was about 50F during the day but "feels like" 15-20 degrees lower, winds 50mph gusting up to 80. I had 6½-week-olds living outside at the time and they were still choosing to come outside in that weather for short periods before getting back out of the wind. Chicks are hardier than people often think

 

[redinator]

Extra feeders and waterers would be a good idea as well. Keeps the bully from being able to hog everything. I tend to scatter feed around when I'm integrating so the less assertive chicks can still get some.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Get the new bird(s) ASAP and toss them all out. Unless you have birds with silkied feathers or health issues they could've been out a couple weeks ago. But right now you're right at the cusp of them being able to (possibly) accept newcomers without an integration period.

 

[Henloving]

If their wing feathers cover that area then they won't lose much heat from it. Rather than a heat lamp I'd maybe just give them something like a cardboard box with a bit of hay or straw or similar to help keep them warm. The only thing I'd worry about is if you're introducing them to other chicks, will they be able to huddle somewhere warm if they won't all sleep together at first or is there a risk they could end up getting chased into a cold or draughty spot? Having them all in the outside coop for their first night together might hopefully make things easier as the new chicks won't be coming into a space that the others see as "theirs". Do you have plenty of clutter for them to stay out of sight at times if there's some chasing and pecking while they get used to each other?

When we had a storm here a couple of weeks ago it was about 50F during the day but "feels like" 15-20 degrees lower, winds 50mph gusting up to 80. I had 6½-week-olds living outside at the time and they were still choosing to come outside in that weather for short periods before getting back out of the wind. Chicks are hardier than people often think

Thanks for all the great info and advice! Yes. They have plenty of space and clutter and no one is picking on the new new ones! Thank goodness. I did put a heat lamp in their outdoor coop / nesting house and it’s ranging in temperature from 60 on one end and 70 on the other at night. They still don’t have the hang of climbing up the ramp into the coop at night yet though! Today I saw a couple of them going up and down the ramp on their own so maybe i will get lucky tonight and not have to catch them and manually put them in. “Come on, girls!”

 

[Henloving]

Extra feeders and waterers would be a good idea as well. Keeps the bully from being able to hog everything. I tend to scatter feed around when I'm integrating so the less assertive chicks can still get some.

Thanks a lot! I’ve done that. I appreciate your input!!

 

[redinator]

Thanks for all the great info and advice! Yes. They have plenty of space and clutter and no one is picking on the new new ones! Thank goodness. I did put a heat lamp in their outdoor coop / nesting house and it’s ranging in temperature from 60 on one end and 70 on the other at night. They still don’t have the hang of climbing up the ramp into the coop at night yet though! Today I saw a couple of them going up and down the ramp on their own so maybe i will get lucky tonight and not have to catch them and manually put them in. “Come on, girls!”

Treat trails worked like a charm for me. Save a good pile for in the coop.

 

[kattabelly]

Thanks for all the great info and advice! Yes. They have plenty of space and clutter and no one is picking on the new new ones! Thank goodness. I did put a heat lamp in their outdoor coop / nesting house and it’s ranging in temperature from 60 on one end and 70 on the other at night. They still don’t have the hang of climbing up the ramp into the coop at night yet though! Today I saw a couple of them going up and down the ramp on their own so maybe i will get lucky tonight and not have to catch them and manually put them in. “Come on, girls!”

Try putting a light inside the coop a bit before the time they should be going in to sleep. Have it pointed towards the area they'll be sleeping in but position it in a way that it's easy for you to turn the light off or remove it after they've settled down.