New chicks Old chickens

[MashedPotatos]

I recently hatched 11 chicks. They are now a little over a week old and starting to get feathers...
I have 2 questions

Question #1
When will i be able to determine their gender (White leg horns)?


Question #2
Can i put the new chicks in the coop now and see if the big chickens will hurt them/ or help them?

THANKS!

 

[PrairieChickens]

I don't know when you'll be able to tell their gender. I can usually tell if I have boys or girls by week 4, but some take longer.

When integrating new chicks with older chickens, proceed with care. Often times, adult chickens will injure or even kill young chicks out of innocent curiosity, and you don't want that. We keep our chicks in a separate enclosure within the chicken coop itself so that the older chickens can get used to seeing these new, tiny residents and figure out that they are not food before they are all mixed together to mingle. If I have broodies, the integration can begin almost immediately after the chicks hatch, because my broodies are so good at watching out for their babies. If I don't have broodiers, the chicks stay in their private suite for a week or two--or longer, if necessary. This also gives them a safe place to have a heating lamp set up where big, destructive chickens can't get in and knock it down.