Introducing new chicks

[Drumbeater]

Hi there. I've got 10 hens (all ex-batts), 5 of which are fairly new arrivals. I followed directions for introducing them to the existing flock, and they've all settled down nicely. However, I also bought 6 week old chicks, which I started off in the house because of the dreadful weather! They're all nicely feathered up and 10 weeks old, so they're outdoors in a small coop with a enclosed run, which I have located in the main run with the adult hens so that they can get to know each other. My question is, when should I try and incorporate the chicks in with the adult flock? The adults have occasionally managed to get in to the small run, and seem to take great delight in bullying the babies; the babies all got out last week after one of the hens scratched under the small run and made a hole big enough for the chicks to get out. The chicks spent their time out huddling together, and it took me about an hour to get them all back in, after which they've made no effort to get out again. The chicks are probably about half the size of the adults now, and they're getting a bit cramped and ansty in their (slightly) cramped quarters. Any advice on how to amalgamate them would be gratefully received!!

 

[chrismahon]

You need to extend their run Drumbeater and keep them there until they are big enough to defend themselves. I wouldn't add them until they are laying as it won't be until that point they come off growers pellets anyway. Introduce them too soon and not only will they be excessively bullied but they will get very stressed and illness may follow. Plus when stressed they won't lay.

 

[Drumbeater]

Thanks Chris. That's what I was thinking. Oh well.