Introducing new chicks

[Leanne2403]

Hi, we have two chickens and we have recently hatched 3 more 2 Orpington and a bantam, we have recently put the chicks outside during the day in a run separate to the big girls, but one of the big chickens keep circling the pen , peaking the chicks and has stopped laying eggs , is this normal behaviour please?

 

[CluckerFamily]

How old are the chicks?

 

[Leanne2403]

How old are the chicks?

Hi the chicks are 6weeks old

 

[CluckerFamily]

I normally start introducing chicks to the flock after they have all their feathers. They don't have a momma to protect them at this age so your older birds will already start the pecking order.

 

[Leanne2403]

I normally start introducing chicks to the flock after they have all their feathers. They don't have a momma to protect them at this age so your older birds will already start the pecking order.

They have all their feathers just one of our other girls keeps peaking them and she's also not layed any eggs in a couple of days

 

[rosemarythyme]

My guess is she may end up going broody... when I was last integrating chicks, the hen that gave the chicks the hardest time went broody when the chicks were around 7 weeks old.