10 week old chicks
Timing is everything when it comes to integrating younger chicks with older chickens. You want to make sure that your chicks are close in size to your older chickens and fast enough to escape any pecking. There may be some bullying until a new pecking order is established.
I have always put my chicks in the coop with the older chickens when they are about seven to eight weeks old. You may have to wait longer if your chicks are still much smaller than your older chickens. They should be fully feathered and able to roost and forage.
You can use a large dog crate or block off part of the run for the first few days or so to let them see each other but not be able to touch each other. You will need to use a second feeder and waterer. Give the older chickens plenty of room. I would not let your new chicks free range until you train them to go into the coop at night. To train them you will have to manually put them into the coop for a night or two until they get the hang of it. Putting them into the coop at night is a great way to merge them with the older chickens.
Once they are all together you will have to monitor their behavior for a couple of weeks and watch for any signs of aggression. Provide some hiding spots or barriers in the coop where your chicks can escape if they are being bullied. The more room they have to move around, the easier it will be. You can also keep the extra feeder and waterer in the coop for the first couple of weeks which helps too. Extra space and extra resources will make the process smoother.
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Outdoor cameras are a great addition to any chicken coop!
