Putting 8 week old chickens with older flock of chickens

[Mattsiewrt94]

This is my current flock and I'm getting chickens that are about 8 weeks old amercauna I've always wanted one of them before lol and I got 2 roosters so I do need to get more anyway haha but could it be done I don't want to get them and they die I know that happens because it has happened even when I got older chickens but are they to young to introduce to my chicken flock??

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there,
Personally, I would not introduce hens any younger than 12 weeks to older birds. Even then, I would put them in a cage/compound of some sort so that they can all eyeball each other for at least a week. Good luck with it, Sue

 

[Mrs. K]

too young

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Ideal time to integrate is 16 weeks. If you go younger than that take precautions.

I think 8 weeks is too young. They just don't stand up for themselves and are at risk for death.

 

[Fred's Hens]

too young

Ideal time to integrate is 16 weeks. If you go younger than that take precautions.

I think 8 weeks is too young. They just don't stand up for themselves and are at risk for death.

Yup.

 

[davemonkey]

I introduced 8 week-olds to my flock at the beginning of last year and it was good. Later in the year I hatched out chicks and I introduced them as well at 6 weeks old.

At 6-8 weeks, they are big enough not to be killed when your hens peck at them (and they WILL peck at them to establish order), but also small enough where they do not try to fight back (which would result in injuries to them). In my opinion, 6-8 weeks is the PERFECT window to introduce chicks to an existing flock.


ETA: I also only coop up at night, so in the day they have more than a quarter-acre to run around on. There is always ample space so there is very little, if any, fighting over stuff. If your birds are cooped up most of the time or are in a small yard area, then you might be inviting disaster.

 

[Mattsiewrt94]

Well I was gonna keep them in the coop for a week my flock free ranges all day long so if they feel overwhelmed they can escape anywhere awe have all fields arounds us and our big yard lol

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Well I was gonna keep them in the coop for a week my flock free ranges all day long so if they feel overwhelmed they can escape anywhere awe have all fields arounds us and our big yard lol

You can put them in the coop with the others safely by putting them inside a dog crate/carrier at night so they don't get pecked. This way you don't have to have a separate coop for them. During the day I recommend you keep them in a separate fenced in area with shelter from elements and food/water.

 

[AmberP1982]

This is my current flock and I'm getting chickens that are about 8 weeks old amercauna I've always wanted one of them before lol and I got 2 roosters so I do need to get more anyway haha but could it be done I don't want to get them and they die I know that happens because it has happened even when I got older chickens but are they to young to introduce to my chicken flock??

I Introduced my 7 week old chicks to my flock of 12 hens and they all did fine! They have been roaming in the run from morning til night with no issues (I bring them in at night to sleep alone in their bin.) I am home all day and do monitor them with cameras. They have been out with them for about 2 weeks now. Occasionally they get chased, but other then that....nothing major. I am going to be getting a couple 3 week old gold and silver laced chicks today and the current 9 week old chicks are going to have to make a permanent residence with the big hens. This will be their first night sleeping in the coop with the big girls! Hope all goes well!! P.s. we have had 3 rounds of adding hens to our current flock, we bring the chicks out in the yard with the older hens as early as 3 days old....closely monitored of course. The hens are with then daily! We are in Florida, so weather is normally wonderful and warm for new baby chicks! Best of luck with your Americaunas! We just found out one of our girls is one as well!!! She is so stinking cute (her name is Raven)

 

[Mrs. K]

This is a very old thread? Those chicks would be 10 years old.