Introducing new chickens to flock

[celestie1975]

We have 6 adult Barred Rock hens. They have been raised together and seem to do fine. This spring we bought 3 more chicks. We have 1 Leghorn, 1 Rhode Island Red, and 1 Barred Rock. They get along really well. They are almost full size. We tried to put them in with the other Hens. It was horrible. Two of the hens went to the chicks immediately and started pecking at them. I let the chicks out. I am trying to figure out how to have the two groups live together in the chicken coup. The place I have the chicks in now is getting too small.

 

[Mahonri]

The 'chicks' need to be at least 16-18 weeks old before introduction. And then you put them on the roosts with the others, at night.

 

[chooniecat]

putting them in at night sounds like a good idea. the older chickens do the "trance" thing and don't show their seniority when doing that. my young chicks(they were 8 weeks when I introduced them but had seen each other for 4 weeks) would be up early into the feed while the older chickens were still"trancing".are they housed NEAR each other? be patient and good luck.