Adding 10 hens and rooster to a flock of three older birds

[swadle]

I have 10 hens from the ages of four to three months old and would like to add them to older flock of three ages around 7 years, 5 years and around 2 years. There is also a four month old rooster we may add. I have him separated at this point to reduce the stress of him being in with the young ladies. How should I introduce them to each other?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

You can either put them all in at night. Or you can make a little pen beside your original flock and have the newbies in there for a week. I’ve done both. They will work out a pecking order in 3-5 weeks. (Always put them in at dusk/night) to reduce the stress levels.

 

[swadle]

We added them. But now I want to know how to separate their food. We have three layers and 11 between the age of 8 to 16 weeks old.