to early to hang out with the older chickens?

[hundleychickens]

This is my first time raising babies my aunt and grandma raised all the grown ups that we have right now. Neither of them remember how old the chicks were when they let them out with the rest.

I have eight 6 week old chicks and was wondering if it was to early to put them out with the big chickens (just visiting for now). The first couple of times i do it i am going to be in the run with them, I have already decided that. Their cage is kept in the coop that all of the other chickens nest and roost in so they aren't strangers. I normally put them in the chicken tractor during the day, however, it needs to be repaired it keeps cutting my hand when i put them in and out.

We have 24 hens and 1 rooster right now. We know for sure one chick is a rooster and pretty sure there is one more. not sure if this is needed to help decide on the answer

any advice will help greatly. thank you in advance!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You can put them in a separate area within the run (ie a crate, make an area with poultry netting, etc) but they are too young for direct "beak to beak" contact at this point. The "see but don't touch" approach is actually quite useful in integrating new birds into an existing flock.