What age should chicks be before introducing mother and chicks to the flock? Also what should they all eat layers or growers?

[aart]

Thank you to everyone who replied, chicks are doing well in the flock other than the occasional peck from the older girls when they step out of line! I’m sure that will change as the rooster chick gets bigger!!! Thanks again this has all been very helpful

The chicks usually do....it's the mama and the other hens that battle.
Did you see any hen battles?

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

I’m hoping some one can help. What age should chicks be before introducing mother and chicks to the flock? Also what should they all eat layers or growers?

The chickens that have hatched chicks have always been with the flock and I've only had problems with my second younger rooster with the chicks when they're really young. My chickens always seem to like seeing little tikes around, even if they're not theirs, and the only time they'll receive a little warning peck is when the chick strays off from mom and stays with another chicken (I've been watching them intently and they're not aggressive or mean, they just peck them as to say "you dummy! I'm not your mom, go with her." and the chick will run quickly with mom. Some hens in the flock are less aggressive with other hens when they come close to the chicks, usually the ones who have the chicks will just fluff up and make a noise to steer the others way from their chicks and the other hens will comply. I've only had two chickens sort of fight each other off, because both came to close to the other and they both had chicks (the rooster and I quickly separated them, it was adorable how he came quickly to stop the fight).

I guess I'd recommend checking behaviors in your chickens to see how they interact with the chicks, mine free range and they pretty much can go anywhere in the field.
We just recently started thinking of making a run for the ones with chicks because there are falcons, eagles, cats, dogs, possums, cacomixtle, etc. around (we've been locking up and supervising our one chicken with chicks, when she goes out we're there so that no one attacks them; she lets us grab her or usher her into the pen we created for her; she's a sweetheart).

 

[rachelsp]

The chicks usually do....it's the mama and the other hens that battle.
Did you see any hen battles?

One it was very quick but it’s not nice to see

 

[aart]

One it was very quick but it’s not nice to see

No, it's not....those girls can go at it!
Glad it was over quick.