What age can you add chicks to the flock?

[mcnicolclan]

We started our chicken adventure last summer and so far it has gone really well. We have room in our coop for a few more and are getting ready for the new chicks. At what age/size will we be able to mix the newbies in with the flock? Will it matter if we get bantams this time? We currently have 12 full size light brahma hens and 1 barred rock rooster. We're also thinkin' about a few ducklings. Let the adventure continue!!

 

[TrystInn]

I generally wait until the chickens are about the same height as the chickens in the coop. That said, I do use a quarantine coop and pen as a mid-point between the main coop and the brooder.

Bantams can go either way. I've had great experiences mixing mine, a friend had a horrible time doing so.

Ducklings are a heck of a lot of fun, we have chickens, bantams and ducks here. Just remember, they shouldn't go in the coop with your chickens - too messy!

 

[fussaguss]

i usually test add some in when they are feathered in fully to make sure no one is going to be mean. if not meanies arise i add them all in .

 

[elmo]

When they're full grown. Then carefully integrate, watching out for severe bullying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Check out this thread. In general, the less space you have, the longer you need to wait and the more dangerous it is.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=472550

 

[catdaddy66]

Another member asked whether it was advisable to have one coop or several smaller ones for a large flock. I personally have 2 larger ones (one is still in progress) and 2-3 smaller ones. I do this so I won't need to integrate the younger and older flocks. IMHO, after reading the difficulty that many members have had doing that very thing, it is easier to get new diggs than for chickens to make nice-nice with strangers. Anyone else find this to be easier?

 

[Ridgerunner]

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When you are integrating, yes, but mine tend to all move in together as they mature. Of course my main coop is much nicer than the temporary. I also raise them for meat as well as eggs. They become more buddy-buddy when the numbers drop and the pecking order gets rearranged.

This is another one of those that I think we'll have different results because of differrent circumstances.

 

[Tbird84]

This is similar to what I did. I have my main coop that the older ones grew up in. Then I have a new one next to it that has a wire partition. That is where I put the younger ones so everyone can get used to each other. I did that for a couple of months. I would give supervised visitation for awhile. Just to make sure the young ones weren't needlessly bullied. Now, I have that coop open for whoever wants to sleep in it. Currently, those low on the totem pole sleep there. This system worked great for me. Especially now that all the roosters' hormones are on high

I definately prefer this over trying to integrate cold turkey. Bad stuff can happen then, and the hens are the ones that do it!
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[brents]

I fence off a spot to keep the small chicks so the old hens can see them. Good couple weeks. Then i leet them out with the hens for as long as I want to watch them, then put them back in the small pen. When I let them run with the old hens I give them plenty of scratch feed so they have something to do. You can hang a head of lettuce just above the old hens so they can reach it but still need to work for it. This keeps them ocupied. Then decide when it is safe to just let them run. If you have room provide hiding places for the chicks.thinds to rrun under or just around, this helps to.