Transitioning birds to the flock.

[Hoytman]

We currently have 15 laying hens that we received last June 2018 and they are all laying well. We have a plan to increase our coop and run size come early spring as soon as things thaw out.

We are wanting to get at least 10 more baby chicks to raise and possibly another 15-20. We'd like to have 25-30 birds and absolutely no more than 35 total.

What is the best way to transition these birds to our current flock?

As soon as the ground thaws I will be working on an outdoor run for all of our birds. Currently have an outdoor covered run. I was thinking of building a chick cage within the run, so that mature birds can't bother the chicks, if that's recommended.

I'd like to raise the chicks in a brooder within this outdoor run I am planning. Then again, I may need to just keep the brooder on the porch near the house so I can watch the birds better and then transition them into their own cage within the outdoor run.

Is it necessary to keep the 2 flocks totally separate for now … even permanently?

My hope is to finally make a decision on which breeds we like and after this order of chicks, begin to raise our own baby chicks. We shall see.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I integrate my chicks at 4-6 weeks by penning them where everyone can see them for a week or two before starting supervised mingling.

Your set up needs to be big enough or else you will have problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you raise them outside in some fashion and provide enough space and obstacles to keep the chicks safe, they can integrate in in only a few weeks. Even after integration they'll probably act like 2 (or more) subflocks until the chicks are closer to maturity, so the goal is for them to be able to share space and resources in relative harmony.

Here is my outdoor brooder/integration page - obviously a smaller set up than what you're wanting but if you scale it up it'll function much the same.

 

[aart]

Build your new coop with the ability to section off part of it, having a run off taht sections will be extra nice.
I also integrate chicks young, so much easier than with older birds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/