Introducing New Chickens?

[MotherHen75]

I am incubating eggs and the first batch is gonna hatch on March 16th. Now I don’t think I have any broody hens, one of my orpington girls looked like she was gonna go brody but that back fired. I am gonna hand raise the chicks and when their older, introduce them. How would I go about doing that? I’ve read some articles but there seem to be a lot of different ways, which one is the best one? We do have one rooster, but he’s a good one. He does occasionally kick me but other then that, he scares away crows, cats and makes sure to stay near the coup when a hen is laying, doesn’t eat until the hens finish, brings them food and bugs. He doesn’t mate too much, he’s great. But i’m a bit worried about the future chickens.

 

[BuffOrps32]

The method I've found best is to put them in a small pen and allow them to meet the old chickens. How many are there? That can differ your method.

 

[MotherHen75]

The method I've found best is to put them in a small pen and allow them to meet the old chickens. How many are there? That can differ your method.

There are 8 older chickens.

 

[aart]

I brood chicks out in coop 1 week after hatch, then integrate by 4-6 weeks.
Easiest integration ever, but takes some time to get it setup:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am gonna hand raise the chicks and when their older, introduce them. How would I go about doing that? I’ve read some articles but there seem to be a lot of different ways, which one is the best one?

There is no "best" way that works for all of us. The reason you see so many different ways is that people do this many different ways. Which method might be a better approach for you will depend on your facilities (size and layout), management techniques, where are you so we know climate, flock make-up, your goals, how much work you might be wiling to do ahead of time or even during integration, whether you have electricity in the coop or not, just all kinds of things.

Some of us put chicks into a brooder in the coop straight from the incubator or post office. Some wait a couple of day to do that. Some wait until the chicks can handle the weather without supplemental heat, typically 4 to 5 weeks of age but what will your weather be like in a month? Some wait until the chicks are an arbitrary age, like 16 weeks. There is no "best" age, it depends on many things.

Many of us use a look but don't touch approach, house them side by side across wire for a time so they get used to each other. Some just put them together. Some use a safe haven/panic room, many don't.

Some general recommendations are to house them across wire for a week or more, maybe much more. When you do merge them provide as much space as possible. If space is tight you can improve the quality of that space by giving them places to hide under, behind, or over. Provide separate feed and water stations so the chicks can eat and drink without being bullied. Don't force them to share a small space with the adults any more than you have too, including let them sleep separately if they want to.

I don't know enough about your situation to really suggest any specifics. The more you can tell us about your situation the more specific we can get.


He doesn’t mate too much, he’s great. But i’m a bit worried about the future chickens.

I'm not exactly sure where you are going with this. A good rooster may (or may not) be a good friend to have when you are integrating chicks. I've never had a mature dominant rooster threaten young chicks, though some people say they have. I don't know their circumstances. I have had some mature dominant roosters help a broody hen take care of her chicks though most just leave them alone. Some people in your position (integrating brooder raised chicks) report that their rooster sort of acts like a broody hen toward them. In my experience the hens are a greater threat to young chicks than a rooster, and even then if you have sufficient space and take your time the hens are seldom a real problem. If space is tight they can be.

If you have cockerels among your chicks and you wait to introduce them until they are old enough to be seen as rivals rather than his chicks, then a mature dominant rooster may not accept them. That's a different situation than young chicks.

Or maybe you mean something entirely different with these comments?