Introducing new chicks

[Tamma]

I have 3 RSL chickens who are about a year old. I am bringing in a polish, an EE and a SLW. My question is about introducing them to the 3 hens I have. I have read to bring them in the coop at night and place them next to the hens. My hens sleep on the highest roost about 4 1/2 feet off the ground. How old should my chicks be to be placed up that high in the coop? I want them to be able to get up and down ok. Thanks!!

 

[sumi]

How old are the newbies? It's better to introduce new chicks when they are more or less the same size as the rest of your flock. Also it would be a good idea to keep them away from your flock for the few weeks to make sure they don't carry any diseases or pests. Chicks can fly pretty well from a young age, but your older chickens will probably prefer it if they were sleeping on a lower perch than them. Pecking order.

 

[Tamma]

I will be raising the babies in the house for about 8 weeks. I have been reading about letting them see each other without being able to co-mingle. So I will start bringing them out in a fenced area of their own every day after they feather out. That way they can get used to seeing each other. I will still bring them back in the house to sleep. Then I was going to let them free range with the older birds (supervised of course) for a couple of weeks. I guess I'm really concerned about putting them in with the older birds at night and not being around to break it up if things get bloody. I have a high roost and a low roost, 4 1/2 feet and 2 feet up. The older birds sleep on the top roost. Do you put them on the roost next to the older chickens or just put them on the lower roost? I am so excited! I LOVE my RSL and can't wait to have a few more.