when to put chicks with big chickens?

[atr04screw]

I have 5 chicks from by big hens, 3 hens and 2 roosters, and they are right at 5 weeks old and I was wondering when I should put them with my big chickens? Right now I have them in a small metal watering trough made for large livestock ,and they are almost too big for it. If it is too early to put them with the big ones, then I have no problem building a small pen for them, but I was wondering if it would be safe to introduce them now? I put one in the coop earlier with the big chickens and one of the hens pekced it hard a couple times, but then stopped and went on with her business and left the chick alone. What should I do? Thanks.

 

[Gofygure]

Five weeks is still quite young, and once hens take a disliking to a chick they'll gang up on it and rip it to pieces. I'd wait until the chicks are 10-12 weeks old before integrating. I introduced a batch at that age and even at 17 weeks they still get bullied, but at least now they are big enough to defend themselves and get away as needed.

 

[chickens12]

put some bigger hens in a big coop with the little ones ysterday but the big ones almost just ran them to death but there was one little black one that would flog those big hens and run them off so i just toook the small ones and put them in nother pen for now