Introducing chicks to my established hens

[CathyM]

I've only had my 6 hens for 9 months, but I've had experience with both your questions. I did not have success with integrating my barred rocks with the (bigger) NH reds, so I ended up building a new smaller coop for the rocks (you can see it in the "tacky coop contest" in the coop topic

). But possibly if I'd waited until the rocks were about the same size, it might have worked better. But the NH Reds really got big fast! They do free range together fairly well (though the reds do push the rocks out of the way of the food whenever they can). And on the free ranging... I only let mine out in the yard when I'm home, which means that if I want/need to go off to the store, I have to round them up into the pen... and they don't like that so much. Sometimes the "chicken squat" impulse works and I can scoop them up before they decide to run... but I have chased several of them around the yard on occasion! I call it "Hensercise"!

 

[ChicksRFun]

Quote:
Haha! That's a great word: "Hensercise." Thank you! That's what my plan is as well, just to let them out when I am home; so I will keep in mind that it may take a bit to get them back into their coop if I have anywhere to go that day. I am kind of nervous about them getting over the fence also, but I guess I will figure it out as it goes. It would be great to let them free range though, not just for the chickens, but my toddler will get a kick out of it too!! Oh, I'll have to check out your coop...see if it really is "tacky"

j/k I do like looking at other coops though, so I'll check it out! Thank you again!

 

[plymouthrocksrock]

My rules for introducing is to:
1: Wait until they're nice and big, so they won't be punching bags for the old girls
2: ALWAYS get more new chicks then current hens/roos. If the new outnumber the old, they will probably just be left alone
3: Make sure you have plenty of space for the newcomers!

Good Luck

 

[kano]

In my experience , the sooner the better. I always introduce the chicks at 10 / 12 weeks old.( But they can see each other before that.) When you do that when they are so young , old hens don''t see them as a threat , and disturbs are minimal.

 

[ChicksRFun]

Great! Thank you. I have only 3 hens and I am getting 4 chicks, so it will outnumber them only by one, but still will be a good little group of them. That is a good idea to introduce them at a young age..I'll see about doing that; if the weather is nice I can put them out into the cage (that I should have by then) next to my hens often and then hopefully by the time they are big enough to defend themselves, if needed, my hens will be used to them being around. I'll try to free range them together too and hopefully they will work it out so they can be housed together without problems...We'll see how it goes. I didn't realize how serious the situation could be by getting new chicks...lol. I'll have to let you all know how it went when that time comes

Thanks for the ideas!