Introducing my chicks to hens

[rscain]

I have 2 brown leghorn hens about 1 yr old (my rooster disappeared this past fall). I have 3 golden comets about 5-7 weeks old. I think all girls. The pullets are seperated but spend some seeing but no touching time in the sunny evenings. When and how should I introduce them with my hens? I have a fenced back yard that my girls roam all day, I lock them up at night.
Also I a want to get a rooster. Can I get one the same age as my chicks and put them together? Or do I have to introduce them carefully just like with the others?

This picture is a couple days old. They have more feathers on their heads.

 

[rscain]

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[ChickenCanoe]

Roosters, if old enough can usually be introduced lone to a flock of hens.
Wait until your chicks are closer to the same size but the best way to start is to let them free range together each day and eventually they'll be accepted.

 

[Alaskan]

Watch them together and see how they are.

Since you have more chicks than grown hens, you might be able to get them to live together happily at a younger age than if the reverse were true.

The biggest key to how soon they can be put together is how much space you have. If the little ones have lots of space where they can run away and hide from the older ones, then they can be housed together sooner. Do make sure you have two feeders and waterers as well as extra perch space.

Even when they all look like things are going well, often a dominant hen will make sure the younger set do not get to eat, drink, or perch.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Watch them together and see how they are.

Since you have more chicks than grown hens, you might be able to get them to live together happily at a younger age than if the reverse were true.

The biggest key to how soon they can be put together is how much space you have. If the little ones have lots of space where they can run away and hide from the older ones, then they can be housed together sooner. Do make sure you have two feeders and waterers as well as extra perch space.

Even when they all look like things are going well, often a dominant hen will make sure the younger set do not get to eat, drink, or perch.

X2 great advice.

 

[rscain]

Sould I let them roam together before I let them sleep together? Give them a chance to go to sleep with them if they want or in their own temp home?

 

[Alaskan]

I would put them all together, and then call the flock and toss out treats and watch.

If there is going to be a big problem, you will hopefully see it right away, with the older hens beating up the chicks in order to get the treats.

If everyone seems pretty good, I would then read a book by the run and watch for an hour and then decide if they could be left unsupervised.