Introducing new chicks to adults?

[nznelson]

We just acquired six 8 week old bantams. Right now they are in a pen by themselves but we would like to put them in with the others we have. We have 3 hens and 1 rooster, fully grown and quite big breeds (Orpington and CobbX). Is there a certain age that they should be introduced to each other? All the birds are free ranged during the day and penned up at night. I would like to let them out during the day now but so worried they will get picked on or pecked on lol. Any advice?

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

they will have to establish a new pecking order which could be very stressful in not dangerous to the new chicks. First and foremost by sure to observe the 30 quarantine...no sense the new ones possibly infecting the established flock. when it is time I would only free range them together if I had the time to sit and observe them. Good Luck and Merry Christmas.

 

[Kansaseq]

I wouldn't introduce the chicks until they are at least the same size as the adults. That way, if the older birds decide to pick on them, the younger birds at least have a fighting chance. Also, I would put the new birds(after quarantine) in pens side by side with the older birds for a couple of weeks so they can get used to seeing each other before actually being turned loose together. Cuts down on fighting and injuries.

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

well said

 

[Judy]

One of the guidelines is waiting til the young ones are the same size as the current flock, but that isn't going to happen. You may very well find that the bantams will never be accepted.

After quarantine, I would fix some housing so they are right next to each other, separated by a fence, for at least a couple of weeks, preferably a month.

Good luck.

A good article on adding new chickens:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock