Introducing chickens to another flock???

[valentinetodd13]

Hello all.
I have around 20 chicks. 2 weeks old. And a friend of mine will be taking a few of them. She has 3 or 4 mature chickens.
My question is when is a good time to give them to her? Now while they are young? Or will their immune systems not be good enough to handle another flocks possible deseases? About what age is appropriate?
Thank you very much. Any info would be great.

 

[Kiki]

The younger the better in my opinion but it is not as simple just that or is it?

Does she have room to keep the chicks safe from the adults?
Possible disease don't give a hoot about age.

 

[aart]

Most backyarders don't have the space to conduct a true medical quarantine, but..
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

I like to integrate chicks young, but some set up will need to be done.
Hopefully they have space to do so,
and space for the additional birds when they grow up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Speedychicken27]

I would put them in a pen neer the others for 1 week then let them out with the others but watch just to make sure nothing goes really wrong