Introducing new chicks to the rest of the flock

[treeowl]

I have purchased 5 new chicks April 1, 2011. How old do they need to be before I can put them in the chicken coop with the rest of my chickens? Right now I have them housed in our out outside building so they are safe and warm, they are very happy and seem to be very healthy, but as you know they are growing very fast and will be out growing thier housing soon, we have enlarged the area that we are keeping them in twice but I need to know when will they be able to take care of themselves around the larger chickens.

 

[carrlr]

I usually wait until they're around 10 weeks old. After that age, my set-up allows me to place them in an area where the chicks are separated from the flock by a chicken wire fence. This allows them to get used to each other without actually being in the same area. After a few days of this, and just before roost time one evening, I lock the older birds out of their coop and place the younger ones in. After the younger ones are well roosted, I open the coop door and by then the older birds will just find a roost spot for the evening. The next morning I make sure I open their coop right when they would be starting to stirring (just before sunrise). They seem to get along fine. I guess after sleeping together, they know each other well enough to get along. I haven't had any problems with this strategy.