Introducing chicks to established flock, tips please

[RyRe2010]

I've read and been told not to feed medicated to laying hens. The medicine used can possibly transfer to the eggs to us.
You could also use a good starter crumble without being medicated and your hens can eat that until babies come of age ^_^

 

[jessg84]

I switched them to starter grower feed. I still keep their food and water in the crate which the big girls cannot get into so they can eat/drink without stress and I have left the crate door open. There has been some chasing and squawking but seems to be ok so far. The chicks are much faster and I put little hiding spaces around the yard and also put some buckets and other obstacles around as they are able to maneuver much faster around these things. It seems as long as the chicks run the hens back off after a little chasing. I’m hoping that this will wear off and when the night temps finally warm up I can put the chicks in the coop at night.

 

[AuntJamie]

I switched them to starter grower feed. I still keep their food and water in the crate which the big girls cannot get into so they can eat/drink without stress and I have left the crate door open. There has been some chasing and squawking but seems to be ok so far. The chicks are much faster and I put little hiding spaces around the yard and also put some buckets and other obstacles around as they are able to maneuver much faster around these things. It seems as long as the chicks run the hens back off after a little chasing. I’m hoping that this will wear off and when the night temps finally warm up I can put the chicks in the coop at night.

How old are your chicks? Mine are 6 wks old. I've heard that if they still have a little fluff but are mostly feathered then they can stay out at night.

 

[jessg84]

Mine are around 6 weeks. They are mostly feathered with fluff in their head. I put them out this morning at 50 degrees and drizzly off and on. I have a run that is covered but then part of the yard that is fenced in around it. They have been outside in the yard all morning and seem happy. My low tonight is like 55 so I am thinking of leaving them out tonight and will probably keep them in their crate covered with a tarp in the covered run. I’m not sure about putting them in with the hens in the coop at night yet.

 

[AuntJamie]

Mine are around 6 weeks. They are mostly feathered with fluff in their head. I put them out this morning at 50 degrees and drizzly off and on. I have a run that is covered but then part of the yard that is fenced in around it. They have been outside in the yard all morning and seem happy. My low tonight is like 55 so I am thinking of leaving them out tonight and will probably keep them in their crate covered with a tarp in the covered run. I’m not sure about putting them in with the hens in the coop at night yet.

I think taking it slow is the way to go. You'll be comfortable at some point, and because of your caution things will work out great, I'm sure.
I'm glad I didn't rush mine into integration. I believe when you stress chickens out (any animal really) too much they develop bad behaviors and it may be tough to break them. My experience is make sure there is PLENTY of feed and water in multiple spots so they aren't fighting over it and being hungry *and* bored will cause poor behaviors. I decided to hang suet block cages around. Three of them. The way they're hung the chickens have to work to get the treat. I'm hoping that will provide enough distraction to keep picking/bullying to a minimum. Also the treats are high in protein, which helps, I think. May be wrong about that but with the pending molt I'm handing out protein. Can't hurt, right?

 

[jessg84]

So the baby chicks have been living outside since Friday. They sleep locked in their own crate otherwise they are free to go out with the big chickens as they want. 3 of the 4 hens barely bother the chicks at all. My one barred rock spends a lot of time chasing them around. They have areas they can escape to that she can’t fit and she doesn’t seem to be pecking or causing any injury, more just harassing. Will this eventually work itself out? I’ve heard of separating out a bullying hen, but if this is something they just need to work out I do not want to interfere and slow the progress.

 

[Blooie]

I fed my entire flock - chicks of assorted ages, layers, roosters and freeloaders, either All Flock or Grower, whichever my feed store had on hand and/or had the freshest date on the bag strip. Can't keep them out of each other's food anyway, so why bother to buy, lug, and try to feed separate feeds? A little oyster shell in a container on the side for the layers and my flock thrived.

 

[AuntJamie]

So the baby chicks have been living outside since Friday. They sleep locked in their own crate otherwise they are free to go out with the big chickens as they want. 3 of the 4 hens barely bother the chicks at all. My one barred rock spends a lot of time chasing them around. They have areas they can escape to that she can’t fit and she doesn’t seem to be pecking or causing any injury, more just harassing. Will this eventually work itself out? I’ve heard of separating out a bullying hen, but if this is something they just need to work out I do not want to interfere and slow the progress.

I believe you separate a bully when he/she is causing harm. The harassment is innocent enough. I have one hen pulling that stuff myself. She doesn't peck, just intimidates them. I think they'll work it out on their own. The chicks seem surprised when she comes toward them, but they don't go out of their way to run off until she does so. The hen doesn't give chase, she just disrupts them when they aren't expecting it. Sort of rushes up making them disperse. It doesn't appear to be incessant.