Accidentally mixed all chickens together, young and old!!!

[PeachygirlGA]

I was out last night so my son put the chickens up for me and he doesn't usually handle it but said it went well. Apparently he didn't know how to put the divider fence up and didn't do it right because this morning I just went outside and they had knocked the fence down. ALL the chickens, 12 of them, were just hanging out together, no fighting, no nothing!!! They have been side by side, fence in between, for a couple of months now but I was waiting until all were the same size before I mixed together. Does this mean they are all ok to stay together now or will they start fighting? I have 4 roosters together, one adult and 3 that are 12 weeks old. I'm planning on getting rid of the young roosters but don't know how long it will be until they will fight each other. Now they are all free ranging in the yard together but the adults went one way and the young ones went another.

 

[NovaAman]

Sounds good. At 3 months, they are nearly full grown anyway. But, I think they are fine.

 

[PeachygirlGA]

So if something was going to happen you think it would have already happened? The adults are buff orpingtons, which I've heard is a calmer breed so maybe that's why they are not doing anything. What age do you think the roosters will start to fight?

 

[NovaAman]

Not for a bit. I have had 9 roosters all at once. The hens are really who you have to worry about. I have 3 grown roosters now, they are good together. They know who is the boss. I also have a few cockerels right now, and they even know who is boss. It depends on the dynamics of yard politics. Just. Watch the girls. They'll let you know when subtractions need to be made.

 

[PeachygirlGA]

What do you mean watch the girls? What are they going to do? I'm pretty new at this! lol! In the yard last night I did notice that our Big Red, adult rooster, put the dominant little cockerel in his place. So I think they all know who is boss. 2 of the pullets followed him around the yard with the big hens, which I thought was quite funny. It was almost like they were little teenagers with a crush on him! lol! The hens pecked at them a couple times, but nothing major. Last night they all went back to the coops they had been in when separated so I went ahead and put the divider gate up just in case. I'm still afraid to leave the gate down, especially since we will be gone to church this morning until after lunch and nobody here to watch them. I'll probably let them out when I get home.