Introducing new chicks

[Coon Hunter]

I'm new to the site, or at least new to posting. Been doing a lot of research, but I have a quick question. I see this topic has been discussed quite a bit, but it's hard to find my specific scenario. I bought 8 chickens from TSC, they are now a month old. I also ordered 8 more from a hatchery, so my wife could pick and choose the breeds she got. I guess I'm just wondering if I'll have much of an issue introducing them since they're really only a month apart in age? My brother is keeping the new chicks for me now for a few weeks until we can identify them. So I'll be introducing month old chicks into my two month old flock. Does anyone think this will be much of a task?

 

[Chickkidz]

if they are just hens, then at first they will probably pick on each other to figure out who is the boss. if you have more than one rooster then they could really hurt each other. it depends on the roosters i have some roosters who will literally kill each other if they could. so i would keep an eye on your birds at first to make sure they dont draw any blood if they do i would either get a new coop or get ride of the ones that are fighting. i hope this is helpful i am only 13 but i have been raising chickens and ducks for 7 years now!! i raise and show my birds.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Probably better to integrate sooner rather than later.
Not sure what you mean by this:
"My brother is keeping the new chicks for me now for a few weeks until we can identify them."

By 2 months old your existing chicks will have established their territory,
they will not welcome the newbies with open wings so it might not be pretty.
But it can be managed with adequate space, setup, and observation.

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.