introducing new chicks

[dschicken]

Im new to byc. I have 4 wk old chicks when can they go in the main coop, without getting hurt. I have 24 chickens (2 big roosters ). Any help would be apprecatied.

 

[Teri Metcalf]

Greetings from College Station, Texas. Our chickens are free range, so I can only speak from that experience. When our 5 peeps were 2-3 weeks old, we let them forage along with the others. The peeps stayed in a group and did pretty well. They were at the bottom of the pecking order, of course, whenever we put food out for the chickens. That was about 18 months ago, and 2 of those original 5 are still with us. They are Easter Eggers, and have been good sturdy hens. One has already hatched peeps of her own. Good luck with yours.

 

[dschicken]

Thats what im worried about is looseing most of the chicks.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC!

Happy you joined!

 

[drumstick diva]

you can partition off your run with a temporary wire fence - so old and new chickens get to see each other without being able to fight. A few days of this and they should be accustomed to each other. You could try them together when you around to supervise. Often older birds will bully the young'uns away from food and water - so you could set up an extra feeder/waterer away from the favorite one.

 

[dschicken]

Thanks I think ill try that.