At what point should my older hens care about chicks?

[Carlyb22]

I have 4 2 year old polish hens and 4 3.5 week old chicks. I’ve never introduced chickens before so when it’s warm I’ve been bringing the chicks outside to get some fresh air and forage a little and get some exposure to the hens. First time I brought them out the hens ran over and looked at them through the dog pen for a minute then left. I’ve been putting them in a run while the hens free range and they couldn’t care less. They don’t even go near the run. When I lure them over with treats they eat and pay zero attention to the babies even when the babies are interested and come closer to the fence. I’m assuming this is a good sign?

 

[Ridgerunner]

At what point should my older hens care about chicks?​

Hopefully they never will unless they are broody and they hatch and raise them. Even then they will wean the chicks and leave them to finish growing up on their own.

What I typically see is that until the chicks mature enough to force their way into the pecking order (usually about when the pullets start to lay) they form a sub-flock. If they invade the hen's personal space they are likely to get pecked so they very quickly learn to avoid the adults. This means they need enough room to avoid the adults during the day and at night.

The way I suggest is to house the chicks where the hens can see them during the day for a week or so. Then let them roam together when you can observe. The hens may show some interest but hopefully will very soon ignore them. The chicks will avoid the adults. It is a good idea to have multiple food and water stations set up far apart so the chicks can eat and drink without having to face the adults. I do not try to force them to sleep close together on roosts. My adults sleep on the roosts while the chicks sleep on the coop floor or even in a separate predator proof shelter when my main coop get crowded.

I'll repeat this. They need enough room to avoid the adults. It is not about square feet per chicken, it is about having enough room to not be close.

 

[aart]

6-8 weeks is too early to put them in with adults. Keeping them in that crate will work though. They will be able to see each other and get to know each while they're waiting to be old enough.

Age isn't really the decider.
I've learned that early(4-6 weeks) integration works much better than waiting until they are 'the same size', but you've got to set the coop up to facilitate it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[aart]

I feel like this will work better for me, so far my Polish don’t seem too interested in them but they have always been behind a fence. I’m going to keep it this way for a little longer and then let them together and supervise. Their coop (open air style so it’s also a run) is 5x8 and we built an additional run onto that which is 7x12. Is that enough space if we add some clutter and spots on the chicks can fit into? We mostly free range during the day so they aren’t too used to being cooped up. I will probably let the Polish still free range for half the day and the second half keep them in the run/coop with the chicks so they can put themselves to bed when they are ready. I plan to make a separate roosting area for the chicks for if they want it.

The key for my technique is that the chicks have tiny doors to get to their safe place that the older birds cannot fit thru.
Clutter in your run might help if you keep that in mind.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

The new chicks are 2 Olive eggers and 2 Rhode Island reds!

With these breeds, go younger (3-4 months). These birds are more aggressive (especially the RIRs) and obviously have the better eyesight, so they'll have an advantage over the Polishes. (If they're added in when they are fully mature, it may become bad for the Polishes.)

 

[Carlyb22]

With these breeds, go younger (3-4 months). These birds are more aggressive (especially the RIRs) and obviously have the better eyesight, so they'll have an advantage over the Polishes. (If they're added in when they are fully mature, it may become bad for the Polishes.)

I was going to have them outside starting around 6-8 weeks when they get too big for the brooder. Is that too early? If they aren’t comfortable with the Polish yet I was going to set up a dog crate with roosts inside the Polish coop since it’s predator protected for them to sleep in at first until they are all together full time. I figure free ranging during the day they would be okay at first since the yards huge and we have multiple food and water spots already

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I was going to have them outside starting around 6-8 weeks when they get too big for the brooder. Is that too early? If they aren’t comfortable with the Polish yet I was going to set up a dog crate with roosts inside the Polish coop since it’s predator protected for them to sleep in at first until they are all together full time. I figure free ranging during the day they would be okay at first since the yards huge and we have multiple food and water spots already

6-8 weeks is too early to put them in with adults. Keeping them in that crate will work though. They will be able to see each other and get to know each while they're waiting to be old enough.

 

[Carlyb22]

6-8 weeks is too early to put them in with adults. Keeping them in that crate will work though. They will be able to see each other and get to know each while they're waiting to be old enough.

Perfect!! Thank you!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also integrate when they are younger...as in weeks not months old.

Lots of space to get away from the adults, several feed and water stations, and clutter to dart behind has worked well for me.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I feel like this will work better for me, so far my Polish don’t seem too interested in them but they have always been behind a fence. I’m going to keep it this way for a little longer and then let them together and supervise. Their coop (open air style so it’s also a run) is 5x8 and we built an additional run onto that which is 7x12. Is that enough space if we add some clutter and spots on the chicks can fit into? We mostly free range during the day so they aren’t too used to being cooped up. I will probably let the Polish still free range for half the day and the second half keep them in the run/coop with the chicks so they can put themselves to bed when they are ready. I plan to make a separate roosting area for the chicks for if they want it.

It should be enough space. The clutter will be needed just in case any adult gets a bit cranky.

I have used wooden saw horses with a piece of plywood screwed to each side to make a "tent". I stick a feed dish and water dish in there as well as on the outside so chicks can eat out of sight of the adults.