When to combine chicks with adult hens

[OneLuckeyWife]

I had to keep my chicks separate for a long time. I tried to integrate them around 3 months but they tried to get with the eggs and the hen killed 2 of my 3 chicks. At 5 months now I have been able to safely let the pullet be with the flock.

I had her in a separate cage and feed the flock right next to her so they would know food is good, chick is good.

 

[aart]

the chicks are 5 weeks old, and yes they only been out there for a little over a week, they spent the first 3 days inside the coop, then I let them out in the run.

Give it a few more days, then I would somehow try to get the chicks moving in and out the tiny doors.
Get them more hiding places so they don't get pinned down again.

 

[blackdog043]

So now they've been in the run next to the big girls for about a week right? They should be getting used to seeing the chicks more now. I would get the chicks to the other side again and stand in there with them for a little bit. Also can you get more stuff to put in the run, to make it not so open, have more distractions and places for the chicks to jump up on?

 

[junkman56]

I have pallets up on logs low enough that the big chickens cannot get under, logs, a screen leaning against the fence, a hay bale. Couple large rocks.
Do you think I should put the in a large dog cage and set them in the middle of the run? For a little while

 

[PouleChick]

Watching this with interest as I now have 2 week old chicks.

Yes, they can be put together. They don’t start the pecking order till a month or two.

This is information I've been looking for - thanks. I have 2 week old chicks and 7 eggs due in just less than 2 weeks and was hoping they will be OK together - I'm guessing from what you have just said that they will be OK?

here a few pictures of the panic doors and some of the get away from big girls things

I love your set up - really nice!

 

[aart]

Do you think I should put the in a large dog cage and set them in the middle of the run? For a little while

You could do that, would be a decent way to 'force' the issue,
use @blackdog043 cardboard panel technique shown in post #8.
Put a hiding place between the cage and one of the 'tiny doors' to their enclosure.
Be creative and keep trying.

 

[junkman56]

I had to keep my chicks separate for a long time. I tried to integrate them around 3 months but they tried to get with the eggs and the hen killed 2 of my 3 chicks. At 5 months now I have been able to safely let the pullet be with the flock.

I had her in a separate cage and feed the flock right next to her so they would know food is good, chick is good.

Sorry to hear about your chicks, I hope I don't go though that.

 

[aart]

I had to keep my chicks separate for a long time. I tried to integrate them around 3 months

It can be much easier to integrate them at 4-6 weeks,
which is what junkman56 is trying here.

 

[debid]

I didn't push mine and they merged around 12 weeks (although they started visiting the big run at 2 weeks). My hens can be mean and I had lost a juvenile when I tried the "throw them together when they're a certain size" thing so I was OK with slooow.

 

[OneLuckeyWife]

It can be much easier to integrate them at 4-6 weeks,
which is what junkman56 is trying here.

I couldn’t integrate them because my RIR roo is a bully. He atttacks anything he doesn’t consider his flock, 30lb dog, baby chicks, new chickens... me