Introducing Chicks to the Main Flock

[OvertheHenHouse]

Super glad to hear that everything went as well as it did! That's about as perfect an introduction as you could hope for

 

[wbruder17]

I always introduce chicks when they are fully feathered, at least. I will have them in a large dog crate inside the large run. I keep them locked iin for a day, then open the door and let them go out and mingle as they feel comfortable. They usually roost in the dog crate for at least a week and I shut them in there at night. They will gradually start to put themselves to sleep in the big coop when they are ready, and when that happens, I just remove the dog crate. Iive never had any problems introducing new chicks to the flock.....but my run and coop are more than big enough, so there's not much need to figt due to overcrowding. Ii think that's where a lot of issues stem from.

 

[drdoolittle]

Well, the 4 chicks that hatched in the house are just staying in the area I sectioned off where the adult chickens can't go. My free-range pen is huge, so I know there won't be a problem with crowding or fighting out there. They usually do fine in the coop too-----since they mainly only are all in there at night.

 

[drdoolittle]

Just thought I'd share pics. of the chicks and hens I added back into the main flock.

New Hampshire Red and the 2 chcicks she hatched:

Buff Orpington and EE cross and the 4 chicks they hatched:

4 "Indoor" chicks in the main coop:

And them around the feeder:

I'm still having to herd the hens and their 6 chicks into the coop in the evening------the gather around their old pen wanting to go in there.

 

[wbruder17]

What kind of chicks are the little black and white ones?

 

[drdoolittle]

Well, I'm not sure who mom is, but dad is my EE cross, Apollo: