When to integrate the chicks with the flock?

[Carli]

Quote:
Yes, this! On the advice of the family that we bought our original flock from, we went ahead and added the chicks with their mama to the main coop last night. Today, mama has been very protective of the babies and the babies are sticking close to her. The chicks have always been in close proximity to the rest of the flock...they could be seen, smelled, heard. They were in a chicken wire brooder area in the main run from the start and since day one, the others have come around to hang out near the fencing. So far, so good!

 

[SpringChickens]

When my chicks have a momma, they've integrated (in my flock) from day one. I've never had a problem with other hens picking on the babies, and then you don't have the trouble re-integrating momma to the flock either. I had one hen killed by the neighbors dog when her babies were about 7 weeks old and they didn't have a problem finding their place in the flock. Of course, I free range also, and I think that has considerable bearing on flock dynamics.