Moving Chicks in with Older Hens

[r-l-newell]

I have two one year old hens and recently bought some baby chicks that I have been raising in a brooder pen. When will they be old enough for me to put the chicks in with the old hens? I have never raised a new batch of chicks after having hens already but a fox got in my hen house roof when the wind blew the tin off of it and killed all but the two hens and now I bought nine more baby chicks and need some advise of when to put them with the old hens.

Thanks for the help.

 

[r-l-newell]

Please someone help me with this question. Thanks.

 

[pulletkeeper]

I don't know if this is correct but I was told I could put them all together when the chicks have all their feathers and they are off the medicated chick starter. I had planned on doing it when they were about 10-12 weeks old. Others have told me to do it when they are full grown or about the size of the hens.

 

[Chicksdigit]

Since youi only have 2 hens I would probably wait till the chicks are about 3 months old if you wait till the chicks are grown the Hens will have to fit into the pecking order as it is now at 3 or 4 months of age they will be at the top and will probably mix in ok

 

[Chicksdigit]

I have mxed groups with no problem but I don't usually just add one or two hens

 

[Illia]

The best time to introduce your chicks to the hens are when they're fully feathered, or about a month old. But - This must only be during decent weather (so, about now

) and the chicks must also have some sort of sanctuary from the hens during bad times. The hens will still try and peck them and pick on them, so make sure the chicks have somewhere to hide, sleep, and eat their own separate food.

 

[new-egger]

I have a bantam hen (under 2 pounds) and 2 chicks (not bantams). The chicks are almost 5 weeks old and we're coming into warm days and not too chilly nights. Right now my little hen is with 2 large hens (bottom of the pecking order). But my intention is to move her into a coop with the 2 chicks. I'm thinking around 6 weeks which is when the chicks will be just slightly smaller than the hen. Plus my hen is broody - might help with keeping them warm at night? My biggest concern is the food since they're on different feeds. I've been told the chicks should be on a grower food until around 6 months old. But I need these dusty girls out of my garage! Suggestions on how to merge them together without sacrificing nutrition?

 

[wsmith]

You can start flock integration as soon as the chicks are feathered. This can be done several ways. What I do is use a creep gate. This device in in the fence between my growout pen and the main chicken yard. It allows the chicks to pass through but not the older larger chickens. The chicks go in and out, and they can "escape" into their growout pen when they feel the need. After about a week or so, they know the flock rules and are usually accepted into the main flock. This can be adapted to varying situations and setups. Just remember that the opening need to be no larger than 3 inches wide. Don't worry about the height. Chickens can squat very low. They have a harder time going narrower than their bodies. Also remember that much of a chicken's width is fluff, which can compress.
Here is a photo of my creep gate:

 

[ozarkchicks]

I really love that creep gate, very nicely built

 

[donrae]

Yes, thanks for that photo. I'm trying to figure how to fit a creep shelter into my current set-up.....