What age do you put chicks with adult flock?

[NinnyGillaspie]

My RIR chicks are 7 weeks. They have been next door to my 6 white leghorns hens with a fence between them for 4 weeks. Every time one of the hens get into the chick coop, they peck and chase them. I want them to get along, so I can get more chicks to put in the brooder. Any suggestions?

 

[TinkyFeathers]

If I remember right I think I put mine in a fenced pen in the coop when they were 6 or 7 weeks old and I think I moved them with the big ones at 11 weeks or something.
Theyll peck eachother lots at first but it works out over time.

Just my thoughts

 

[Toshi]

It is best to wait until the baby birds are the same size or close to the same size of the big birds so they stand a chance, i put mine in with my other birds after 14 weeks, they were close to the same size. My little birds would alway see the big ones though out the whole day and then sleep in diffrent places until i mixed them. It went well they were the right size so the big birds couldn't kill them.

So wait a while longer until they get to be 14weeks then see if they are about the same size, since you have been keeping them together in the same area with a fence inbetween they should be fine once you let them out. But the biger ones will still chase the babies around for a bit to get the pecking order established. First introuduction must been watched. Watch them when they are with the big birds.

Just my thoughts and what i did with mind

 

[dsfrango]

You probably could let them out soon, but when you do, let all your new ones in at once, NOT 1 at a time. With all the chicks at once the pecking will be spread amongst them all rather than concentrated on only 1 poor chick. The chicks will stick together as a group and avoid the adults for the most part.

 

[Stephanie739]

Oh yes! One more thing I forgot to mention on the other post about this. When I first began letting the big chicks mix with the babies inside the coop, without putting the babies in the crate, I was only allowing one or two big girls in at a time.

 

[Toshi]

If you do it to soon one of the babies could get hurt. Even if they have been next to each other for a while the biger birds can still hurt them when they try to work out the pecking order. I added my second bunch of chicks (they had been staying in the coop wihtt eh biger birds for 2 weeks and have been out freerangs in the same area with a fence between them) and when i put them in to mix them wihtt he flock, one of my hens ripped a big chunk of feather and skin off one of the babies. Scalped her, she still has a small balled spot from it. But if you wnat to do so, just be careful. 7week old babies agaisnt an adult hen, the chicks will stay together but it sometimes takes one hen to get the others started.

 

[dsfrango]

Quote:
Very true...it only takes one time I went through it recently adding 3 eight week old milles with my Sebrights and 2 STD hens(I know small compared to RIR) but sebrights are very aggressive towards newcomers. They picked a few times but there are hiding places like under a pallet I have to hold the food bin up and a bail of hay. They hide right under til the big girls loose interest. They'll quickly establish themsleves after a week or so.

 

[Toshi]

Yep, thats why it would be better to give the chicks a fair chance, if they are smaller more things can happen. If they are aboutt he same size then they do have a better chance, less likely to get hurt too.

 

[Stephanie739]

Ok! I am going to put the babies back in the crate (right now) They are surely warmer in the crate anyway.

 

[teach1rusl]

If they'll be integrated inside a run, as was already suggested, I'd wait another month or so at least. You want the chicks to be large enough to defend themselves if any of the hens is overly aggressive. But if you free range, then I'd go ahead and start working on the integration, even if it's just for a few hours a day, building up.