Introducing Chicks to 2 hens?

[mikkip13]

Any advice for introducing chicks to my girls? I have 2 Hens and want to bring in a 3rd. I read where it's best to have more than one so I have my friends chicks as well (4 total). One of the hens is not having it and is letting me know quite loudly. They spent all afternoon together but in separate corners. Cupcake isn't being the sweet thing she's named after! She's being a bully and pecking them when they get close and sometimes chasing after them almost like she's going in for the kill. Maybe it's supposed to be like that? (Pecking order?) I'm afraid she's going to hurt them. :-(

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Any advice for introducing chicks to my girls? I have 2 Hens and want to bring in a 3rd. I read where it's best to have more than one so I have my friends chicks as well (4 total). One of the hens is not having it and is letting me know quite loudly. They spent all afternoon together but in separate corners. Cupcake isn't being the sweet thing she's named after! She's being a bully and pecking them when they get close and sometimes chasing after them almost like she's going in for the kill. Maybe it's supposed to be like that? (Pecking order?) I'm afraid she's going to hurt them. :-(

Did you just put them together from the get-go or was there a "see but can't touch" period where they were housed in eyesight but in separate enclosures to prevent contact? How old are the "chicks"?

 

[mikkip13]

The chicks are 8 weeks old now. We had a couple of days where we put them out with the girls but kept them separate.