Introducing...!!

[AnniM]

Hi
We have three 8 wk old Americauna chicks that want to join their 10 month old sister hens.
How and when should they meet? They are currently living inside with a heat lamp at night and the temps in barn have been down to 40 degrees some nights.
The last time I did this I put a 4 month old hen into the coop with older hens at night and she lost an eye.
Trying to avoid this happening again.
Thanks

 

[sumi]

I think by now they should be able to regulate their body temperature well enough not to need the heat lamp? I would make an enclosed area for them right next to existing flock, so they can visit and see each other, but the older birds won't be able to get to and harm the youngsters. Keep them in there until they are around 15-16 weeks old and then start letting them mingle. If you let your birds free range, let them free range together at first. There will still be some feathers flying as they reestablish their pecking order, but since they'll know the youngsters by then, the older birds will accept them more readily.

 

[AnniM]

Sounds like the perfect plan to get them together. Thanks a lot.