Put new chicks with hen(s)?

[CandyJ]

I have 6 hens (ranging in age from 1-4 years old) and I just bought 6 new chicks yesterday. I was wondering if I could put the chicks in with the hens or one hen? Will a hen treat them as her own? Or should I keep them separate until the chicks could defend themselves and gradually introduce them to my hens?

 

[cafarmgirl]

Unless you have a hen who has been broody for a couple weeks then do NOT put the chicks in with the older hens. They will be attacked, possibly even killed. Chicks need to be about the same size before they are integrated. I raise mine in a grow out pen next to the older girls from the age of 5 weeks until about 10 weeks before I start integrating. After that much time next to each other the pecking order scuffles are very, very minor.

 

[CandyJ]

Okay. thank you! I raised my last addition to my flock separate/beside the hens but I did not know If I could put them together. This helps! Thanks!