Add 2 month old pullets to year old hens?

[dlaciv12]

How are you dealing with the different nutritional requirements? I just moved my 8 week old chicks out to a recently vacated coop except for a 1 year old rooster. He didn't bother them at all (yet) but I am worried about him getting the nutrition he needs from their starter chow.
This is the first time I have done this, I gave my 2 yr old hens to my neighbor who wanted to get started after seeing the fun I was having. Should I try to keep the rooster on the grown-up food he was eating? I suspect it is way too early for the chicks to be on the layer chow, correct?
Thanks everyone!

 

[BartsTess]

I'm having the same issues at my pen.

My early spring chicks are all healthy, friendly and happy free-roaming girls! (One of them turned out to be a roo, however!) 3 Buff Orp's, 2 Golden laced Wyandotts & 2 Isa's! They all get along and they come RUNNING at full speed when they hear my voice! It is SO cool!

But now I have 4 young'uns....two months or so...just got their feathers not to long ago. (2 Buff Brahma hens and 2 Black Copper Maran roosters) I just moved them outside yesterday. I put them into a huge dog crate so the ladies can walk by and take a look .... sorta like going to the zoo, ya know? and am hoping this will make it easier for introductions. HOWEVER, I was cleaning the crate and decided I would bring one of the little roos out and hold him for awhile. All the ladies gathered 'round to check him out and he wanted loose SOOOO bad! He kept squirming and the older ones didn't seem to be aggressive towards him at all, so I thought, 'what the heck? I'm right here if things go amiss, but they have to mingle sooner or later'. So I let him down.

He fluttered his little wings, went running and jumping towards all of them and they were ALL OVER HIM in one second flat! I yelled and clapped my hands. They fled the crime scene and tried to be all innocent acting....I could just hear them, "What mom? I was just over here eating this bug!" Took me a second to catch up with the little guy, but he was happy as can be going back into the crate with the other lil ones like him! He's not hurt at all that I can see.....but maybe for his pride!

So NOW what? Too soon? Maybe set up an ex-pen so THEY can enjoy a bug or two and grass on their feet while waiting the other's approval? Was I wrong in protecting him? Should I have let them work it out?

I LOVE this site, by the way! You guys ROCK when it comes to good helpful advice!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
Please do not forget the all important quarantine period, especially when adding started birds. You don't want to risk the health of your existing flock by bringing in some new disease.