Introducing chicks

[mbloft]

My situation is this: I now have only one hen left after a number of predations by hawks. I'm wondering if I bring in young chicks will this hen act like a mother hen or will she get aggressive to establish the so-called pecking order?

 

[Naser]

If she gets broody she will, otherwise unpredictable, you can put them in the same place separated by chicken wire, after a week raise the chicken wire 3 inches so they can go to her but she cannot go to them. if you are lucky she might mother them but that is unlikely.
More important don't buy any more until you have a secure run, otherwise you will be only feeding the hawks

 

[mbloft]

If she gets broody she will, otherwise unpredictable, you can put them in the same place separated by chicken wire, after a week raise the chicken wire 3 inches so they can go to her but she cannot go to them. if you are lucky she might mother them but that is unlikely.
More important don't buy any more until you have a secure run, otherwise you will be only feeding the hawks

Thanks for your response. The run is secure. The attacks are coming while they have the run of the yard. So I guess its up to me to either monitor them closer or keep them penned in.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have had very good luck with the one way gate, chicks can fit through, big birds can't, as described above.

 

[Posh Flock]

I just lost half of my small flock of 8 three year old hens to a couple of pit bulls. So now have 4 hens and introducing a bunch of chicks. Hate the integration process, but it just takes time. Thankfully after reading so many different ideas here, feeling like it won’t be as much of a problem as I thought. Thanks for all the great info...