Suggestions for introducing chicks to established hens and roo...?

[Mahonri]

I don't try to integrate until they are at least 16 weeks old.

 

[colbye12]

We a had a fully astilished flock of 3 hens and to roos when we interduced 3 hens that their feathers had just came in. So we divived a corner(about 6 feet) of the coop with goat wire and but the chicks in there.They were fine but when they started clucking we took down the wire and they were still fine.

 

[dianneS]

I've had absolutely no problem integrating six week old chicks. I've even put them in the coop at night and by morning they were all fine together. I have particularly docile birds though. The roos don't bother the chicks at all. Some of the hens do, but by six weeks they know how to stick up for themselves. I do make sure that they have little hiding places that they can escape to if they are getting harassed too much.

My chickens go free range about 50% of the time too, so that may be a factor. Since they aren't all penned up all the time and they have plenty of space to roam perhaps that makes them less likely to pick on each other?