Introducing my baby’s to the flock

[Hippie-dippie-chick]

I have 8 Bielefelder chicks about 10 weeks old. Is it too early to take away heat and introduce them to the rest of the flock.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Definitely not too early... how cold is it? They really should've been weaned off heat weeks ago unless you have unusually cold climate or chicks with health issues. Have they been in line of sight of the adults at all?

 

[Hippie-dippie-chick]

Definitely not too early... how cold is it? They really should've been weaned off heat weeks ago unless you have unusually cold climate or chicks with health issues. Have they been in line of sight of the adults at all?

First let me thank you for your reply. I got them 9/12 they are fast growing .The weather has been warm the past week so I’ve been getting them outside ,separated but in sight of the rest . For two days I’ve let the rest of the flock in with them with me there. They are afraid and have been pecked a little. I was thinking maybe another two weeks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

First let me thank you for your reply. I got them 9/12 they are fast growing .The weather has been warm the past week so I’ve been getting them outside ,separated but in sight of the rest . For two days I’ve let the rest of the flock in with them with me there. They are afraid and have been pecked a little. I was thinking maybe another two weeks.

Supervised together time is a good start. A little pecking is normal. Not sure what your run space looks like, but multiple feeders and some clutter can help provide chicks with safer options for feeding, and hiding spaces for chicks to get away from adults. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Hippie-dippie-chick]

Supervised together time is a good start. A little pecking is normal. Not sure what your run space looks like, but multiple feeders and some clutter can help provide chicks with safer options for feeding, and hiding spaces for chicks to get away from adults. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

ohhhh never thought of that . They have lots of room . Great advice .Thank you once again this was very helpful.

 

[Monem]

I have 8 Bielefelder chicks about 10 weeks old. Is it too early to take away heat and introduce them to the rest of the flock.

Seems good

 

[drinkoj]

I have 8 Bielefelder chicks about 10 weeks old. Is it too early to take away heat and introduce them to the rest of the flock.

Along with the clutter concept, think about using the method in this link, https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

I am concerned that at 10 weeks they have some size to them already and I'm not sure if the little doors and fencing raised will protect them, as the big girls might be able to get through them too, but it's worth a read so you can come up with ideas that fit your situation.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Along with the clutter concept, think about using the method in this link, https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

I am concerned that at 10 weeks they have some size to them already and I'm not sure if the little doors and fencing raised will protect them, as the big girls might be able to get through them too, but it's worth a read so you can come up with ideas that fit your situation.

At 10 weeks I agree they'd be too big for a panic door set up (small adults could easily squeeze into anything a 10 week old chick can run in/out of) so clutter is really what you'll need to rely on to provide the bulk of coverage.

I've even had hens manage to stuff themselves into panic openings meant for 4 week olds... they really wanted the chick feed lol. So I keep trying to push integration earlier in my flock so that sort of thing doesn't need to be an issue.