Adding a hen to the mix

[modestmaiden62]

I have five 6 week old lavender Orpington chicks. I am wanting to add at least one lavender amaurecana (spelling?) hen to the mix so I can get eggs now. It will be awhile till I get eggs from the Orps. I have had the Orps in their new coop for about 2 weeks, and just let them out into the run the other day. It started to rain and the little silly ninnies stood out in the rain and I had to catch them and put them in the coop. Now today a couple days later I am trying it again. I let them out and they are loving it. I just hope they learn to go back in and out during the day and at night. I need to know when it is okay to add a hen.

 

[Judy]

Any time, really. You should qurantine, tnough. They usually do best if they are all about the same size. It's a good idea to ouse them next to each other for a couple of weeks, so they can interact but through a fence. More here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803815/integrating-two-groups/0_20