Need Advice. Getting 4 new chicks

[SconnieChicks]

Hello All, I currently have 6 layers and 2 roosters and will be getting 4 new week old chicks this weekend from my son.
I plan to get a large box to put them in my garage with a heat lamp for the time being. The flock now currently free ranges all day and I am hoping to get some advice here on how old the new chicks need to be to be allowed out into the coop and free range and the best way to introduce them to the rest of the flock.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[candyNflowers]

I havent done it yet but seems like most wait till at least 7-8 weeks old and then do a gradual interduction to reduce the likely hood of the bigger birds picking on the smaller ones or waiting till the younger birds are the same size at the older ones. I plan to wait till about 7-8 weeks and start introducing them slowly with a cage or chicken wire barrier in the yard in the daytime so they can see each other but be safe from the older birds. hopefully someone with more experience will answer.-lisa

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Remember, your chicks will eat a different diet until at least 16 - 18 weeks, and the calcium in your layer ration can cause reproductive problems in pullets that eat it too young. Because of this, they can free-range together as soon as they're feathered, as long as there's plenty of room for the young birds to get away, but they cannot be together full time because you have to have a way to keep the rations separated.

Because of this, we don't integrate flocks until 18 weeks. They've been on opposite sides of a fence for many weeks, so to integrate we just open the gate and let them all together. There is some stress for the first week as the pullets don't know where they are supposed to go to bed, because we close up the pullets' house to force them to follow the main flock to the big hen house.

 

[candyNflowers]

i wonder if you could integrate sooner if you used flock raiser instead of pullet feed and had the oyster shells as a free option for the older birds?-lisa

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You could. I actually feed my entire flock a grower always -- at all life stages so I can keep a mixed flock without issue. Just make sure to have a calcium source available.

One thing to keep in mind though is that in my experience the closer they are in physical size to the existing birds the better they can hold up to the initial mean-ness that always happens in the beginning. I generally try to keep them separate for at least 12 weeks and let them get as big as I can. Keeping them in the same area but separated by a fence for at least week is a good idea to sort of get to know each other without being able to hurt each other.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

You could. I actually feed my entire flock a grower always -- at all life stages so I can keep a mixed flock without issue. Just make sure to have a calcium source available.

One thing to keep in mind though is that in my experience the closer they are in physical size to the existing birds the better they can hold up to the initial mean-ness that always happens in the beginning. I generally try to keep them separate for at least 12 weeks and let them get as big as I can. Keeping them in the same area but separated by a fence for at least week is a good idea to sort of get to know each other without being able to hurt each other.

X2

It's always best to integrate birds that are similar sizes. And Flock Raiser for all is a viable option.

(Although around here, Flock Raiser is a full $2 more per bag than my high-protein layer ration. So I don't personally do this. But you could, if you wanted to.)

 

[SconnieChicks]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. As of this weekend the weather finally changed and our snow is gone and weather up to the 60's-70's during the daytime and 40's-50's at night. I separated the coop with wire fencing and put the chicks out there with a heat lamp for them they seem to love the extra room to run around versus the playpen we had them in in the house. They are about 5 weeks now and are growing fast. This weekend I fenced off a seperate run off their side of the coop so they can get outside and they really love it and they are getting to know the bigger birds through the fence. I did have a couple escapees yesterday that managed to find a flaw in my containment and I was happy to see one of the hens just investigating and not picking on the runaways before they were caught by the warden(me). Hoping that in another 3-4 weeks I will be able to put them all together.

 

[roostersandhens]

I'd introduce them by getting a dog run or a small fenced area, and putting it out with the older chickens. Then put the chicks in it when they are 6 - 8 weeks old. Then they can meet through a fance. Then when the chicks are 8 - 10 weeks they can start free - ranging.
Good Luck!