Introducing chicks to established flock

[CORachael]

Hi all!

We are new to raising chickens and are thinking about getting a few chicks to add to our flock of three one-year-old Americana hens. Wanted to know what suggested size or age new chicks could be safely introduced into an established flock of adult hens. They would be in a large backyard that they would be allowed to free-range in. Also, we were thinking about getting a turkey chick this year. Does anyone have any experience raising turkeys and chicken chicks together?

Thank you for helping!
Rachael

 

[Kelsie2290]

There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating birds of various ages into flocks, https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock It is generally easiest to introduce chickens when they are about the same size, and if you can split the coop into two sections or have a cage/run in the main coop where the birds can see and interact with each other through the wire but not touch for a few weeks. A lot of people have turkeys and chickens together, you might want to check out the turkey forum, https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/20/turkeys also depending on your area, Blackhead is one thing to be aware of in turkeys housed with chickens https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804570/coping-with-blackhead

 

[hildar]

we put our younger ones in with the older ones. However we had a large handmade cage that they were in. We kept them inside of their for 2 weeks so the others could get use to them, and placed them outside during the day in a different cage so they could eat grass, and take dirt baths. After 2 weeks while the hens were roosting we sat the 6 week old old ones on the short roost, the next morning everyone was getting along fine. It is always best to wait to let them loose at night. Our old rooster Half, use to complain to the young ones to be quiet if they wanted to stay up at night, but soon enough they learned when Dad says its bed time it's bed time.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I'm planning on using our wire dog crate to introduce the chicks into the coop, once they are feathered out, I noticed a picture of someone using one for their chicks for an outside run, and thought it would work to add them to the flock. after a few weeks like that I'll introduce them to some of the hens (closed coop everyone else in the run) and see how that goes before letting them join the others full time, leaving the cage for the chicks for safety until they are the same size as the current layers.

 

[barbjess]

I'm planning on using our wire dog crate to introduce the chicks into the coop, once they are feathered out, I noticed a picture of someone using one for their chicks for an outside run, and thought it would work to add them to the flock. after a few weeks like that I'll introduce them to some of the hens (closed coop everyone else in the run) and see how that goes before letting them join the others full time, leaving the cage for the chicks for safety until they are the same size as the current layers.

I hope I can learn from you: How did the dog crate work for you, what was the age of the chicks when you first put them into the coop with the dog crate as protection, what was the temperature?

I have a 4 week old chick and an established 1 year old flock of 21 hens and 1 rooster. I have the chick in my house most of the time but put her outside in the chicken yard in a small fenced area as temperature permits. The chick is very interested in the other chickens and the chickens have lost their interest in her as they roam around the yard. The temperatures here are ranging between 68 and mid-70's most days and down to 50's a few nights. I want to get her established into the flock before Winter. I have a cat carrier that I could use to to put her into the coop at night. Any advice based on your experience would be appreciated.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I used a wire dog crate, they went in with the crate at 3 weeks, at 4 weeks I turned it on it's side so the larger holes that were the floor of the crate were on the outside, so they could come and go as they pleased but were still safe, of 12 chicks I had one injury, someone pecked at his vent, and wing, he healed up perfectly.

Later I used this same crate with 2- 1 week old chicks, and a heat lamp for cold nights, they were also out and about in the coop by 4 weeks. I currently have a broody in the crate with 1 - 2 week old chick, and am trying to decide when to open the door so mama can move around more freely.

 

[barbjess]

Thank you so much! I had visions of the chick spending the winter in a cage in my bathroom which I really don't want to do.