How to SAFELY Add Young Chickens to Your Existing Flock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มิ.ย. 2023
- Henlo! I am The President of Chickenlandia and I want to welcome you to Chickenlandia, a magical place where my pet chickens (and a few ducks) live an awesome life. Thank you for watching this video about adding young chickens to your existing flock. I hope you love it! #chickenlandia #welcometochickenlandia #backyardchickens
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Chickens are drama sometimes
For real!
SOMETIMES?! 😆😛 haha. Mine are drama constantly. They have so much personality don't they? 😄
A little extra action in the background at 1:26 🤣🤣
This was helpful! Thank you!
I know 😂😂😂😂😂🫣🫣🫣
😂
I just put my chickens out together with their mother at about 5 weeks old. They never had any problems with this. No fights. But I have a closed flock. My chickens are all related.
I have food and water in many places in my garden. No fighting over food in this way.
We also have lunch together at 1300 with kale and salads and some protein.
Later we have afternoon tea with something good ,,- fruits, berries, cakes, bisquits or whatever I have in the home.
We are all a close family.❤️
You've got some very lucky chickens.
@@cathyl4622 I guess they are. People say I spoil them, but whats the use of keeping animals if you just want to give them as little as possible?
My oldest chickens are about 2 months old. I integrated my 6 week old chicks about 2 weeks ago and they're doing so well! The big chickens don't even mind them. My middle chickens, that I got a few weeks before the 6 week Olds, were more annoyed with them. Now, they're all getting along. Lol
That's awesome!
I found you when you did an interview with Jill Winger, old fashioned on purpose. I’m so glad I did! You are so helpful and your way of teaching people who are new or just can’t figure out a problem is so encouraging! I find sometimes people on social media groups like Facebook can be mean to those who just don’t know things yet, but you bring answers in a sweet, happy, nonjudgmental way! Thank you for being you!
My girls are only ten weeks but I already want more. Out of consideration for my husband, I'm going to wait until next summer lol. Chicken math is real y'all!
😂❤️
My husband got upset everytime I added 2 new chickens lol I had to finally stop at 8 😂
I got more 😂😂♥️♥️
This is the story of my life right now lol. I don't think the little rooster in the new group is helping the situation. They're a few days shy of 12 weeks. The Jersey Giant (shes so big!) can hold her own against the big girls, but the rest of them can't yet. Fingers crossed!
This is a perfect time for this video! We got baby chicks on February and it was a straight run. So far five out of eight are roosters! 🤦🏼♀️ We just got another set of eight hens that are maybe 2 weeks old. Thanks for the info! First time owner here so all your advice is very helpful. ❤
I'm sorry with your horrible lottery draw! I always remember when the sign says "straight run" I then know to straight RUN (away)!!🏃♀️💨
@@steph6337 lesson learned! 😂
Thank you!
Perfect timing!! My first flock are 10 weeks old now and I just picked up a small flock of Ayam Cemani chicks and have been wondering how to integrate them! Thank you!
Its funny how everyone assumes the wife is the one who wants chickens and is the homesteader. Not for me lol thankfully my wife entertains me lol
❤TODAY!🎉 My Hazel hatched her first ever chick, maybe 2 more by end of day😊
Hazel is 14 months old, Buff Orpington
Another great video from one of my favorite backyard chicken teachers!
Yes TY Dahlia! Perfect timing, I have 5 , 12 week olds I just integrated!
1:25 Rooster photo bomb 🤣
Thank you for doing these videos; I have been able to save many chicks that had given up on themselves thanks to you 👍
I have 5 hens that I'm now integrating with 4 pullets that I raised from chicks. Raised them indoors till 4 weeks, then transitioned them to a grow-out pen inside the coop/hen house. The pen is sectioned off by hardware cloth so that they can all see each other. I have food and water in with the pullets only. During their grow-out, I also gave them time in the grass alone in a sectioned-off area that the hens can see. Around 10 weeks I opened a small section in the hardware cloth that only the pullets could fit in and out of. They have been exploring the coop, but have not yet ventured out to the covered run. Now at 13 weeks, I have taken them out of the coop and "made" them visit the run. They stay on the roosts out there most of the day, when I'm out in the garden. There is some squabbling when the hens get up there too, but they work through it. I then put them back in the coop to show them where to go at night....before the hens go up on their own. I will be overjoyed when they take all of these actions themselves. Still seems they are afraid to leave the coop on their own. In a week or so, we will take out the hardware cloth in the coop....wonder how that will go! This is my first time integrating hens and pullets.
This is what I needed
0:41 😳 handsome? You and the Mrs with them Naked Necks 😐
Very great information. We always wait until the 16 week mark prior to integrating our new flock with the old flock. Week 15 we will have their coop inside with the elderly coop but don't let them out for the while week.
Don’t be jealous of Hebert because he’s so pretty. 😂🐔👹❤️
@@WelcometoChickenlandia 😳🤣🤪
Hatched 2, bought 3 in March, then hatched 6, bought 3 more...ran out of bathroom space lol, so first 5 went outside at 6 weeks, into a pen, overnight temps 55. They did ok. Then the 2nd batch went outside at 6 weeks... they got out of the pen day 7 and everyone got along. Thankfully 😅
However the pecking order is sorting. Baby rooster already got kicked by my year old rooster...
Love your shirt!
Having a rooster and broody hens does make it so easy. My issue was I had all rooster babies and had to give them away last year. This year so far there are no broody hens. I want to give it another shot with broody hen but I can’t force it.
You are so fun and helpful to watch. Can you give some advice is it true if your hens stop laying is chyane pepper in their feed that will help? I love my girls I can't see doing that.
Omg the chickens mating in the background 😂🤣
I KNOW!!! I almost had my editor write in something funny like “get a room!” Or something lol!!!
I have 6, 5 month Olds including a rooster...I was just given 6 8 week olds...tried to integrate but no luck, I'll try again, but sooner or later I'm just going to put them together and let nature sort it out.
Hahaha! Your chickens are digging to China, like mine! 🤣
Timely subject, I'm picking up 2 more babies this weekend! 😉👍
i love the super troopers clip lol "oh you mean shenanigans"
A rooster is going at it right behind you Dalia!!! 🤣
Almost time to introduce our littles to the bigs. 👍❤️ Henopause 😂
🥵👵🏽😂
I have 2 sets of babies that went outside this month 2 weeks apart the oldest ones has 1 of older hens with them she teaches babies the way right now they are in their own fenced in area with in the run and in a cage in the coop at night
New subscriber. :-). What a great idea. I'm sure you've done this already, but do you have a video on how to make the coup and area rodent proof/resistant. I used to raise chickens as a kid - but never realized they took up residence under the hen house. Couldn't figure out why the birds were eating so much but we're so skinny!
Yes, I talk about it a lot in my predator proofing videos and my videos where I talk about keeping chickens in the suburbs and city. The main thing is to keep feed in a rodent-proof container at night and also make sure you aren't leaving kitchen scraps out. :-)
Ty chickenlandia just in time bc We are getting baby chicks soon that will need to be integrated with the flock we have !!
Good luck! They will do great.
That is the cutest little naked- neck baby chick ever🐤
LOVE naked neck babies!!!
I have 6 new chickens that are 11 weeks old and they are separated but in the yard with my year old hens. The older hens are able to see and interact with them through the fence. The new flock has 2 roosters, which the older hens have no idea about. One of my hens tried to take on a rooster, he's not quite big enough to put her in her place yet. I'm going to try removing the fencing in another few weeks, when the younger chickens are a bit bigger. Henopas!! Hahahaha!!
1:28 That rooster!!!
Where did you get the net above your chicken area? My cousin has a crazy idea he is gonna net like 2 acres of area for his flock cause the birds of prey succeed unfortunately. Do you have any opinion to share about the netting? How is it holding up? Would you prefer a different material or weave size or anything?
The world works in mysterious ways I tell ya lol. Binged YT and remembered just before bed. Where is the President of Chickenlandia?!!! I wanted to ask about the netting!
But as it just so happens, the same crazy cousin is going to move his young hens to the flock and needs help moving things around to accommodate. And your video!!! Is about integration of young chickies! Double whammy!!! Great info! I'm gonna pass it along! Make him sub too!
Dahlia, can you mention how you work your feed situation when integrating. My adult birds are on pellets in feeders. Best for no waste. The 12 weekers are on starter crumble of course...How do you work this out...Thank you..
I just integrated three new pallets into my flock. I had intended my broody hen to raise them, unfortunately she left her nest the very day I got her so,e chicks. So I had to raise them. They were so funny and feisty , once or twice a big hen tried to harass them but these girls just chest bumped them back! I would have wondered if they were roosters except they are sex link chicks. Anyway, they still run as their separate little flock, but they are not getting harassed. They are still sleeping in a separate hutch, by their own choice, and I am glad because I would still be concerned that the older ladies would bully them in the morning before I release them. I followed what you recommend, went perfectly.
MY NAME IS DALIA TOO ❤
Mine free range just in the yard. Seems like I have three separate flocks in two separate coops that don’t fight but don’t hang with each other. 😂 abt to add three more 😂 😂
nice!!
Hi Dalia, my babies are 1 month old🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥
I purchased 13 baby chicks they were 3 days old when I got them, I purchased a chicken coop and built beside the big girls run so they would get use to each other. They were 3 months old on July 11 The only reason I have not put them with the big girls is because I have read you don't give the chickens layer feed until they are 18 months old. So how do you keep the younger ones from eating the layer feed? Need help!! thank you, love your channel
Raising chicks in my basement right now. Just the video I need- existing flock is 5 years old….
My girls are mean - they keep the newbies from food, so I feed the babies in the coop!
I have 5 laying hens that are already almost 1yr old now and I free range them on 1 acre, but I want to get 5 more baby chicks so I have different breeds what about the feed? My laying hens eat layer pellets and when I get my baby chicks they will be on a grower crumble until they are gonna get close to first start laying there first egg but I Wana free range my pullets with my existing flock I get what your saying about keeping them separate should I just have 2 different feeders in my big coop once there a little older?
UMG I just hatched NN silkies and im already worrying about how the heck to integrate with the 8 week olds I hatched..starting a new flock is SOOO HARD! Had to do it because I moved from Alaska! Im thinking of building a condo coop too because silkies hang low...prob do a split run ..ugh so tedious!
Hi thanks. I was kind of doing what you say here, but I went too fast in opening the door. Today the hen (an orphan!) got picked up a lot. The old ones had time to wound her before I came back. Big open wound on the head. I'm soo sad. Be carefull everyone. HENS CAN BE VERY MEAN. But it's my fault. So, cleaned that very well. And wlll continue for weeks before trying again. And she's back in my house for a while. Very sad. But thanks for your video.
I have almost 6wk old regular sized chicks about to go in the coop and then 1wk old chicks that are a mix of regular sized chicks to bantam porcelain d’uccles. Can I integrate all of them together fairly easy since the older ones aren’t full grown? And can I keep the porcelains with the rest of the flock?(once they are old enough to integrate)
I have a unique situation where unfortunately two of my hens died. Now im left with one hen and a rooster. Should i be more precautios or less when intergrating new pullets?
Hi there. I've learned a lot from your videos. I am just starting with having chickens. My neighbor is hatching them and raising them until they can be kept outside in coop and run. My question is, do I need to keep the chickens in the coop for a certain amount of time before I let them outside in the run? They will be about 3 or 4 weeks old when I get them.
At three or four weeks they will likely still need some supplemental heat depending on the temperature where you are. If your run is enclosed, safe, and connected to your coop, they should be fine in it. You just might have to put them in the coop in the evening since they don’t have a mama to show them where to go. :)
Ok. So if your initial attempt to integrate is not going well, do you start over and take the new chicks out for a couple more weeks? If there is only one bully is it an option to take the bully out?
I am getting two chickens from one breeder a silkie aged 2 years and a speckled Sussex age 12 weeks and then a Americauna from a different breeders who is about 4 months old. How do I introduce them to each other? Do I seperate all 3? 😅😅It's very stressful haha
I have two week old Isa brown with the big chicken and they pick on them so I have to put them back in the cage instead of letting run around
I have (3) one year old roos and we are receiving 10 baby chicks (hens) next month. How and when do you recommend introducing the chicks to these roos? (They are all Orphingtons). My boys are pretty big and I dont know what to expect.. Would they try to mate with them despite being babies still? 😐 Pretty sure they would crush them to death.... Please advise!
I integrated my dog into one of my flocks yesterday. lol Actually wasn't by choice. My Jazzy girl ran out the door when I went out and just so happens three of my hens were out running around the yard because I had left the fencing lowered. Dead chicken coming up! lol Actually they have been meeting through the wire for a while and at least have met. First choice was to drop the fence and let the rest out instead of chasing chickens or dogs and getting everybody excited. Everybody gathered around for a meet and greet, one of my lead hens started to jump in on Jazzy and she was about to respond in kind but I broke in and that was that. Expected my boys might have something to say to Jazzy but they didn't. They came by a few times while Jazzy was sitting with me for scratches, more jealous than anything I think. My goofy boys. They're actually a little bigger than Jazzy.
It was all a good thing I figure. Jazzy is a smart girl. Awesome mother and is the matriarch in the clan. Strong protector and I expect she'll extend that to the birds since she realizes they are part of the family.
We had four chickens but a huge dog broke into our enclosure and killed three of them (it was awful!). 😭 Our last remaining hen looks happy when we're around and clearly doesn't want to be alone. We want to introduce new chicks to the one hen. Is it the same advice to introduce several baby chicks to the one hen?
Thank you, Dalia! I’m doing your recommendation, but in reverse. The one hen not accepting the new young bantams is in a bully pen. Hope this works! 🤞
How large is your gated area for the chickens?
I thought it would be easier to integrate chicks with chicks, but it wasn't. The first set of chicks were 6 weeks old when we got the new 4 day old chicks. They were not happy to have them - so we kept them separate til the new chicks were 4 weeks old and tried again to no avail. So for a week I stuck the new chicks in a large wire dog crate in the chicken enclosure. I started letting them out with the big chicks every day for longer and longer. Now they still go for them occasionally, but it's mostly only one or two pullets that do it and the rest could care less. It took a lot of time. Anyway just commenting because everything online is for introducing chicks to hens not chicks to bigger chicks.
I have seven roosters, seven hens and eighteen chicks. They are all silkies and I would like to keep them all. I’ve hatched each of them myself and giving them up is not in my vocabulary. I love them all dearly but I also heard roosters can turn against each other. What are your thoughts and how could I go about keeping my flock without overcrowding or there being too many roosters?
You could keep all your roosters together away from the hens. Then they should be fine as bachelors together.
Lots and lots of room may help as well. And you never know, they might be okay. But honestly that’s not a great ratio. You may end up with pretty stressed out hens if you keep them all together. ❤️
Can someone help me with gapeworm information? I have been looking everywhere to find Flubenvet 1% in USA to buy for gapeworm treatment for my 7 week old chicks. I think 2 of them may have gapeworm. I am having trouble finding treatments to deworm them. Can someone direct me asap to where I can purchase Flubenvet 1% or something else for treatment of gapeworm? Thanks in advance.
What if your older chicks are not laying eggs yet just a few wks older than your young chicks? But the older ones are a month before they lay eggs
It seems like my rooster is the one who is pretty rough with the new young hens. So I separated them again.
I just introduced six new chickens three Marans and three leghorns that I raised from baby chicks. I always worry, and do the introduction super slow.
Well done!
1:25 🙈🤣🤣🤣
So embarrassing. GET A ROOM!! 😂🫣
I’ve had my young hens in their grow out pen for almost two weeks. I still have one hen that wants to peck them. I’m about to let the young ladies out and toss that meanie into the grow out pen. None of the other girls have an issue with the new girls.
My rooster is attacking my 3 month old chick. I have her in a cage in the coop. I don’t have a lot of space
Isn't there an issue with younger chickens eating older chicken food until they reach 16 to 18 weeks?
You can switch the whole flock over to starter or grower during this time, and then switch them all back to layer once the younger ones reach laying age. Make sure you offer a calcium supplement in a separate dish so the mature chickens can get what they need.
Can you put day old chicks with your flock
Not unless they are with a broody hen that has hatched them or adopted them. Day old chicks can get killed by adult hens unless they are protected by a mother hen.
I let a hen sit on eggs for 3 weeks but none hatched. But it has been hard to get her integrated into the flock again😢
I would just do the integration process as if she was an entirely new chicken. It shouldn't take too long to get her back into the flock. :-)
I tried to put 4wk old chicks in with 6wk old chicks and they killed one of my younger ones and injured another 😢.
My rooster started mating with my 12 week old chicks!!!! Is this bad?????
Hi President of chickenlandio
My name is alika and I have a pet roo named thunder. I have taken care of him from the time he is a baby .. we are from India
I am changing my home and there is no one to adopt thunder
Would you please adopt him?
I trust you that, with you he is in safe and kind hands
regards alika
How would u let a mom hen hatch babies and integrate them with her flock without her and the babies being removed
You wouldn't need to integrate them as they would already be with the flock. Maybe I'm not understanding the question?
Sorry I made it confusing lol, my question is is it safe to let a broody hen hatch chicks in a nesting box in her coop with her flock? Would her and the chicks need to b separated, if not how would they b safe and how would I keep the bigger hens from eating their starter feed?
@@sabrinashelton918 Ahh okay I see now! It really depends on the personality of your flock as to whether or not it is safe to have her hatch babies among them. Most of the time, a mama hen will fiercely protect her babies. I'll attach the video I did last week that should help you. As for feed, just switch your whole flock over to starter (non-medicated) and make sure you offer a calcium supplement for the adult hens in a separate dish. Here's the video: th-cam.com/video/c7bbRLW-GnI/w-d-xo.html
Starter feed isn’t a bad thing for the whole flock.
Additionally, you can mix starter feed with regular feed (if everyone’s sharing) bcuz babies usually with their momma (if she’s a good momma) won’t need the added extra special stuff only.
Im no pro, Im just a long time ranch hand who’s new to backyard chicken raising. 😉
@@WelcometoChickenlandia thank u so much! U have helped me so much with my chickens and I love watching each and everyone of your videos. With switching the entire flock to starter feed and the hens not getting their laying pellets would they lay less eggs? Would I keep them on the starter feed permanently?
Ima ranch hand, what older chickens will do to new babies is nightmare fuel.
Right?? It's awful!
@@WelcometoChickenlandia girl?! And they carry on about their business as if it were just a normal day out in these streets😟🤣🥹
@@smang7866 You didn't lie! They do!!!
I pick up a lot of hints and often it's just to catch up on what you are doing. Those bare-necked chickens are, but repulsive just like those hairless cats and dogs. It's a pity people are allowed to breed these genetic misfits.
They are rescues with bad genetics. I took them in so that they could have a chance at a good life.
Some of our favorite chickens were naked neck chickens. They had such cute personalities, and their appearance kinda grows on you😂
But I know they aren't for everyone.