Rooster and chicks

[Bryce Thomas]

How old should chicks be before they go into the pen/run with the rooster? I once heard a good thing to remember is that the chicks should be half the size of the hens that are in the coop, I just have to make sure the chicks are big enough so my rooster wont stress them out and kill them. All my chicks and birds are silkies

 

[50-45-1]

Is it just a rooster in the pen or a flock of chickens? Not only roosters but hens also will sometimes give chicks a hard time. New comers are never welcomed.
Chicks with a broody hen have a protector.
Chicks should be fully feathered and able to avoid and escape to safe zones when harassed and bullied.
They should have multiple areas to access food and water.
The most important thing to help with introductions and integration is room , the more room, the better and easier it will go.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Is it just a rooster in the pen or a flock of chickens? Not only roosters but hens also will sometimes give chicks a hard time. New comers are never welcomed.
Chicks with a broody hen have a protector.
Chicks should be fully feathered and able to avoid and escape to safe zones when harassed and bullied.
They should have multiple areas to access food and water.
The most important thing to help with introductions and integration is room , the more room, the better and easier it will go.

I hear putting a new bird in with the flock at night when all is sleeping they will wake up like nothing is wrong with the new bird. Can I do that?

 

[50-45-1]

All will be good and quiet until morning light, then all holy h*!! Will break out

 

[aart]

I, and others, have found much success with integrating chicks early.
Takes some work to set it up, but well worth the effort.
Here's 3 ways to do it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still good to observe the.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/