Introducing my new chicks to my existing flock

Laurie Abney

Chirping
7 Years
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Hi! I'm looking for some advice on how and when to introduce my new chicks to my other five hens. My babies are 12 weeks old. I've been keeping them in a horse stall since they were about four weeks old (when I acquired them). The adult hens have face to face access to the youngsters. I'm not sure how I need to go about incorporating them together. I know there will probably be some feathers flying when I put them together. My hens are locked up each night and free range during the day. Will the newbies follow the older ones to the roost or likely to go back to the horse stall? Should I put them together during the night, or just turn them loose together during the day? Should I let the chicks grow to about the same size as the adults before I put them together? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
 
I have been through the exactly same thing several times. If all of your older chickens are hens, I don't think there will be a problem. Roosters on the other hand will try and establish dominance even with the chicks. Introducing them as early as possible is the best thing to do. The chicks will most likely follow the older ones, but now that they are going through what I like to call their "teenage phase" it might be best to let them roam free with the older ones for a while and then allow them to move into the coop. The chicks will go into the horse stall at night, but keeping it closed and putting them in the roost every night for a while will train them to go there instead. Hope this helped!
 
I have been through the exactly same thing several times. If all of your older chickens are hens, I don't think there will be a problem. Roosters on the other hand will try and establish dominance even with the chicks. Introducing them as early as possible is the best thing to do. The chicks will most likely follow the older ones, but now that they are going through what I like to call their "teenage phase" it might be best to let them roam free with the older ones for a while and then allow them to move into the coop. The chicks will go into the horse stall at night, but keeping it closed and putting them in the roost every night for a while will train them to go there instead. Hope this helped!
 
Thank you so much! This definitely helps! I'll probably try it this week. I did let them out together for a little while this afternoon. A couple of the hens jumped on the babies, but since they were out in the open they could get away. The chicks all ran back into the stall where it was safe. I had to chuckle at them. I'm sure they'll all work it out after a few days. Thanks again!
 

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