Is It Possible For Chicks To Learn Defend Themselves From An Established Flock Of Chickens?

So, the question is, the older chickens?

There are a lot of discussion online about the chickens and the chicks can defend themselves from the older hens. Some experienced chicken owners will tell you to never, ever turn the chicken with adult chickens, while at least 20 weeks. Others will tell you that it's only to find them turn together while at least 8 weeks. Others say the appropriate age somewhere between the two.

Personally, I have kept chickens for years and successfully raised dozens of chickens. What I learned is that the chickens defend themselves from other birds just fine as long as they are large enough and they all have plenty of room to roam. Younger birds are mostly defending the run first, and then as they get older they will actually direct challenge anyone to be bullying.

Typically, I pick up chicks in one of two ways. The first way is to pull out some eggs and put them in an incubator. When these chicks hatch, they are kept in for several days and then moved outside the home of their own chicken and chicken run. But, since my free range chickens, the chickens can see a flock of chickens. they actually spend much time watching the new babies as they run and play.

with the proviso that I pick up chicks without a mother, I learned that it is generally safer not to try to introduce them while they are at least 12 weeks. At this age, the chicks are big enough and chickens defend themselves from other birds, if anyone attacks them. At this age, they are also quite fast and can run away from any chicken that means. older hens usually are not motivated enough to chase them much, if at all, and there is usually no problem.

When the chickens about 12 weeks I start leaving the door open to the chicken coop and let the chickens run around as they please. For the first few weeks to just go occasionally and ran back to the first sign of trouble. Gradually, they get bolder and will move away from your house. I always lock them back in their area at night until they decide they are ready to go to the main chicken house. gradually mixed with the main herd and integrated without too much trouble. Even if it takes a hen to them, chicks can defend , without any problems.