putting chicks with hens?

[Chicken Boy 09]

I have six 5 week old chicks and they are big enough to be out of the brooder. what is my best bet for where to put them next? thanks for the help!

 

[grandmaof5]

I don't have an answer for you; I'm wondering the same thing. My chicks are also 5 weeks old. The hens have seen them, heard them and haven't shown any interest, so I'm thinking it may be safe, but my concern is how will I keep the hens from eating the chicks food? They are still on starter and I'd like to keep them on it until the bag is all gone, at least.

I've never put chicks in with hens before. I've only started with chicks.

 

[Jeffross1968]

Unless the chicks grew up in sight of the hens, I don't know if it would be a good idea to put them together. I have a smaller coop I move them to at around 2 or 3 weeks, outside in full view of the larger hens as they free range. I keep them like that for another few weeks at least, and then let them free range together for as long as possible, weeks to over a month, before putting them together.

 

[RachaelS]

Unless the chicks grew up in sight of the hens, I don't know if it would be a good idea to put them together. I have a smaller coop I move them to at around 2 or 3 weeks, outside in full view of the larger hens as they free range. I keep them like that for another few weeks at least, and then let them free range together for as long as possible, weeks to over a month, before putting them together.

x2, that is what I did, they were side by side for 3 weeks, then when the chicks were 8 weeks I let them free range "together" the big girls would just go off and the little ones would stay near the coop. I have been doing that for about 2 weeks now and one of the big girls seems to have made it her job to keep the Roos (same age as the younger girls) away from the younger girls, she cashes them off whenever they get to close. Kind of cute. Next week I will merge the two groups into the large coop (little ones will be 11 weeks) and move the younger ones out of the house and put them where the other girls are now and repeat the process above

My test is when I feed treats, the big girls have stopped running off the little ones and allow them to eat the treats with them, so me that shows acceptance.