Introducing new chicks to a flock

[art2700]

Hello!
I just picked up 5 chicks (2 days old) and I’m trying to get an idea on how exactly to introduce them to our current flock. We have 3 hens (2 buffs, 1 EE) that aren’t yet laying and 1 rooster all about 4.5 months old. The chicks are in a brooder in the garage and the others stay in their coop/run and free range when I’m home. I’ve heard mixed things- people saying the earlier to introduce them the better and others where you should wait until they’re close to the same size as the rest of the flock before doing so.

So really my questions are:

1) should I get a head start and move their brooder into the coop so the flock can start getting used to their presence?
2) at what age should the new girls be when I let them fully interact without separation?
3) Are roosters typically a concern in any of this? Ours doesn’t seem to be aggressive toward the hens…and hopefully stays that way lol


Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you can fit your brooder in your coop that is great! Definitely do that but be careful the chickens can’t jump up on it and poop in it or anything like that.

Integrating any new chickens should be done slowly using the see-no-touch method. It doesn’t matter the size of the chicken they should always be separated for a week at least in a safe pen where the new guys can see the old guys and vice versa. If you move the brooder into the coop this should speed that process along.

Once you’re ready to let the chicks out (I would wait until they’re fully feathered at least) then it’s helpful if they can get back into their safe pen through a door too small for a grown hen to fit through. That way they can escape if they need to.

Here is a great article that will be more helpful than me

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/