Introducing new chicks to older ones

[Wellbie]

Ok .. so we've caught some kind of chicken fever. We have 6 about 5-6 weeks old that are going to moving outside VERY soon. We have a double lot here in Southeast Missouri and according to town rules we can have six per lot. So I figure we can have 12. So when we move these outside I was thinking of getting 2-3 more. How would I transition newbies to the older ones when they are big enough to go outside? Will this be an issue?

 

[Chicklady707]

Ok .. so we've caught some kind of chicken fever. We have 6 about 5-6 weeks old that are going to moving outside VERY soon. We have a double lot here in Southeast Missouri and according to town rules we can have six per lot. So I figure we can have 12. So when we move these outside I was thinking of getting 2-3 more. How would I transition newbies to the older ones when they are big enough to go outside? Will this be an issue?

I am by far no chicken expert but what I have been reading is to have a separate area to keep the newbies in (for a few weeks) to slowly introduce the new chicks to the existing flock. Then, let them together to mingle a few hours each day and then finally put them all together as one flock. I want to build a separate area within my run for this reason. My first flock ever of 23 chicks will be mailed the week of June 1.

 

[Pork Pie]

It should be fine, with a little planning. Read through this link to help you prepare - Flock integration