adding older hens to excisting young pullet flock?

[showbarnmom]

I have a flock of 7, 7-11 week old pullets. I know its hard to introduce young chicks into a flock. Would I be better off to add older, close to point of lay hens? I do not have a way to separate them for long. Last introduction I left the chicks in a large wire dog kennel for the day. Then cooped them that night withexcisting flock. It seemed to go OK, except they continuously ran my EE away from food and she died yesterday. (They have been together a month.) Or should I just go for same age again? (Previous introduction was same age chicks.)

 

[Den in Penn]

There is a maturity gap between the seven week olds and POLs, that is sometimes a problem in integrations. Think teens and preteens. I would go with the same age for now.

 

[showbarnmom]

That's what I was afraid of. I was hoping by adding some older, closer to maturity hens would help keep some peace.