Introducing chicks to the flock

[cranklin]

We have 20 adult chickens and 11 chicks, approx. 10 wks old. The Marans are big, the Americanas are med, and the Road Islands are smaller. Getting them into the coop would reduce the care and feeding. The adults spend most of their time out free ranging. Is it to early, or should we start w/ the big gals???

 

[hkwdesign]

I'm new to raising chickens, but I got 3 Bantam Buff Brahmas, then a month later got 4 chicks. I kept them in separate brooders side by side for a week, then on a sunny day brought them out to play in the sun together for a bit - all got along, so we put them all together in the coop with the heat lamp. The BBB's are much bigger than the babies and they act like mother hens, allowing the babies to snuggle up - all has worked out well! Of course you have much older chickens, but you know the saying "mother hen" some are very maternal by nature.

Good luck!

 

[Blue_Myst]

I had to do this just last year. I introduced my chicks to my adult hens when they were about. . . twelve weeks I think. For a few weeks I put them in a pen where the older girls could see them but not touch. Then I let the chicks out for free ranging, then let the adult hens out. There were a few chest bumps and squabbles, but they were outside and there was plenty of room to get away, and they were all sleeping on the same roosts that night!

As long as you don't have adult roosters and you let them see each other without touching for at least a week, I think you're in the go!

Hopes this help!

 

[Fergie]

I have one golden laced wyandotte hen, and six five week old chicks. I've been letting them mingle a bit in our back yard. Mostly the hen just hangs out with them, but every once in awhile she pecks one. So she only gets to hang out with them in our back yard a for few minutes a day. But when the chicks are in their outside pen, she usually hangs out with them. I think she likes their company. We are wondering when to move them into the coop with her....? I saw a post say wait until 12 weeks. Somebody else said have them see each other but no touch for 3 days. I'm not sure how to proceed next....?

 

[spish]

so what age should you wait to put the young ones with the bigger chickens..if theres an adult rooster present?
i have 9 chicks (4 young roos 5 hens) that are 9 weeks old. theyve been living in a hen house and coop next to the adults since the weekend, the adults can see them but not get at them since theres a makeshift fence round the smaller ones. adults have taken no notice of the smaller ones at all. (they live in a field 100m x 40m so plenty of space, but their house stand next to each other for ease of cleaning/feeding etc)