Adding adult chickens

[Creekchics]

Hi! I have five hens 2to 3year old, and an older rooster, not sure how old as I don't know his history.

I also have a separate flock 5month old 3 hens with one roo,( the two Roos father and son will fight eventually when together, )

I was going to hatch up to six chicks next spring to add to the small young flock, but now my neighbor is offering six 2 to 3 year old Easter eager hens. Good because they are about the same age as older flock and laying, bad because they would all get old at the same time and I plan to let them retire as pets.

I would eventually like to add them to the smaller young flock with the younger rooster, I have read 6 to 10 is the right number per rooster. Or would it be better to merge with the other flock the same age?
It would be awesome if I could eventually let them all freerange together part of the day without Roos fighting.

I haven't decided whether to take them or not, if I do I'd probably quarantine them in a separate area for a while anyway and will be building a new coop in the spring.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The 10:1 hen:rooster ratio is for fertility, NOT behavior. Its actually a pretty terrible guide to behavior, since individual variation then overwhelms averages.

A good long "see and be seen" period where they are in one another's presence but unable to physically interact will help with integration. So will multiple feed stations, and "clutter" to break up sight lines. Abundance is a Social Lubricant, and not just for poultry.

Ages don't matter for integration purposes so long as there is't a huge size disparity. and anecdotally, my young Roos always behave like stupid adolescents when they get their hormones in. I find that having elder hens is "useful" in teaching them how to behave around the ladies.

 

[Creekchics]

The 10:1 hen:rooster ratio is for fertility, NOT behavior. Its actually a pretty terrible guide to behavior, since individual variation then overwhelms averages.

A good long "see and be seen" period where they are in one another's presence but unable to physically interact will help with integration. So will multiple feed stations, and "clutter" to break up sight lines. Abundance is a Social Lubricant, and not just for poultry.

Ages don't matter for integration purposes so long as there is't a huge size disparity. and anecdotally, my young Roos always behave like stupid adolescents when they get their hormones in. I find that having elder hens is "useful" in teaching them how to behave around the ladies.

Thank you that is very helpful advice, it does seem the young roo is all hopped up on hormones, I sometimes bring him down into my yard for some alone time, he is way more mellow without the girls around

 

[townchicks]

If you want them, get them. Just do quarantine for a good two weeks, and plan on a long, possibly weeks to a month of look but don't touch intro. Give them lots of space and clutter when you do introduce them. The new group will have their own hiarchy and intro will throw both flocks into a tizzy for a while. Watch them that nobody gets picked on too much, and everyone is getting access to food and water.