Is it safe to add more chicks?

[Onyxflock]

My 2 new babies are 7 weeks and curious gangly little girls. I'd like to add 2 more (5 days old) from the recent hatch, but I'm concerned the first 2 may not accept them.
The 2 biggest girls are 8 months and they're tough on the babies when they get out in the run.
The chicks are in an enclosure inside the big run with their own house.
I don't know if I can keep the 4 youngsters together in the same run until big enough to hang with the 2 ladies.
Any advice?

 

[Rose Quartz]

My 2 new babies are 7 weeks and curious gangly little girls. I'd like to add 2 more (5 days old) from the recent hatch, but I'm concerned the first 2 may not accept them.
The 2 biggest girls are 8 months and they're tough on the babies when they get out in the run.
The chicks are in an enclosure inside the big run with their own house.
I don't know if I can keep the 4 youngsters together in the same run until big enough to hang with the 2 ladies.
Any advice?

It would be better to put the 7 weeks and old birds together, than the 7 weeks and babies together.

With the older ones together, they'll have a rough week but eventually they'll get along.

The 7 week olds could kill the babies though.

 

[Onyxflock]

I was afraid of that. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Parront]

New babies need some protection from older & bigger birds. Here is a good article to read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[Onyxflock]

I loved that article, the idea to raise the fence has worked marvelously. I did have to figure it out tho, and give them some training to understand what to do.
We have construction bricks in the run, to hold down the fence and for them to sit on, etc. The little ones can fit through the holes, like concrete doorways. So I used two bricks, 1 on each side if their run to hold the fence up. They really took to this better than the wood block I was using. With the block they tended to hop on top, rather than go under, which caused them to get caught in the chicken wire. That really worried me.
Now they go in & out and old Pinkie can't catch them.
This is why I thought now would be good time to complete the flock. I'm pretty sure the big hens won't allow them in their house at night yet. They'll still need their sleeping quarters.
After hearing your advice, I think I'll wait on new chicks. Maybe I'll come across a hen to add as an adult bird later on.
Thanks!!

 

[Onyxflock]

 

[Parront]

View attachment 2218240View attachment 2218242

Very good photos showing the enjoyment they have coming through the fence. Beware of the lesson they have learned when they start tunneling out of the run as older birds! You will have to close up all under-the-fence opportunities

 

[Onyxflock]

Yeah! Good thought! I've noticed they make the little holes that that big girls exploit into bigger holes!

 

[Parront]

Yeah! Good thought! I've noticed they make the little holes that that big girls exploit into bigger holes!

I like the cinder block doorway. Big birds can't enlarge that!

 

[drinkoj]

I like the cinder block doorway. Big birds can't enlarge that!

I hadn't thought of that! Thanks, as I picked up about 20 from my in-laws last week.