new chicks

[chickenraiser13]

I have 5 week old chicks and some 2 year old chickens. Can I put the babies out with the older chickens all at once or do I need to introduce them slowly?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's better to keep them separated until the same size.

 

[my sunwolf]

You can fence off a portion of the coop for the babies and allow the adults to see them but not get to them. Practice this separation until the chicks are 8 weeks old; in my opinion this is the optimum age to introduce young ones to the flock. Then, when you introduce them, just make sure they have a way to get away from the older chickens.

 

[chickenraiser13]

Thanks for the information. I would of loved to have kept them in the house longer but they are big chicks for their age, I think. They like being outside anyway. I will keep you all posted on how they do.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's better to keep them separated until the same size.

Thanks for the information. I would of loved to have kept them in the house longer but they are big chicks for their age, I think. They like being outside anyway. I will keep you all posted on how they do.

I meant outside, just separated. They're meant to be outside.

I put chicks in an outbuilding from day 1 so from an age perspective they're ready. I seem to frequently be in the minority and my advice may not be practical for someone with a small flock and a single coop. Keeping birds of different ages separated can help control worms and diseases like cholera, ulcerative enteritis, tuberculosis, paratyphoid and some other things caused by e-coli.
Regardless of the size of your setup, it is so helpful to have at least 2 places to keep chickens so that sick, injured, new arrivals and young birds can be separated.