When and how to merge babies into flock

[DakotaChick]

Hello - am new to this and we hatched our first set of babies from eggs - they were born 35 days ago and are getting somewhat big for their home (wire cage) that we created for them. The cage has been right alongside our 6 adult (2+yr) hens where they roost at night (they free range during the day but are locked in our shed at night). Any recommendations for when - and how - to blend them? We were thinking of starting with putting them outside with the "big girls" during the day but are a little fearful that they may be in danger of hawks (we live on 80 acres with many trees and frequently see hawks nearby). So better to start in the "big girls" indoor coop in the early morning or late evening?

 

[azygous]

Free ranging five-week olds is a terrible idea for obvious reasons. But setting up a protective enclosure in the coop has limited value since the adults are outside most of the day. It would help if you had a secure run for the chicks until they grew to a size where they aren't so vulnerable.

In lieu of a run, you would want a secure pen for the chicks, with cover, set up in an area where they can get back to it quickly. I call this a 'panic room'. It has chick-size openings where the chicks can enter and the adults cannot.

I'm otherwise at a loss to advise you how to accomplish integration without a run to keep the chicks safe from predators. Maybe others who have done this without a run can offer some ideas.

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you let the chicks out to free range with supervision? Perhaps spread some scratch grain, so the adults will come to eat with the chicks. I find it easiest FOR ME to integrate chicks into the flock during free range time. Of course I have to supervise, but, a bit of free range time will work wonders at getting chicks and adults integrated. After a few weeks of supervised free range, I then put the chicks in with the adults. I do have a semi secure run due to heavy hawk predation.