Adding older hens to my young flock?

[PlotTwistPoultry]

Most of what I've found is about adding younger hene/chicks to an older, established flock. I'm in a bit of a reverse situation where all of my current flock are about 2 months old. A family member has four Delaware hens she needs to re-home. They're about 2 years old.

I was wondering if there's any differences that we need to be aware about when introducing the older hens to the flock? I was going to keep them separated (by some sort of chicken wire or other barricade where they can see and get used to each other) before letting them actually integrate fully.

 

[Mrs. K]

Integration has more to do space and the number of birds. So a lot will depend on your coop/run set up and how you have that set up. Is there a lot of clutter, is there hideouts, roosts, mini walls, multiple feed stations set up so that birds eating at one, cannot see birds eating at another?

It also will depend on how many birds you have now. Measure your coop/run and post pictures. Thing is, your 2 month old birds are not full grown, and what appears to be enough room now, may not be enough room later.

The older hens will be more dominant, and will remain their own flock with your younger girls a subflock. As they come into lay, the subflock will disappear. It is kind of fun to notice.

There is the possibility to bring in a disease. Many people have horror stories of a disease spreading through their flock. I myself would not buy birds on auction, who knows what they have been exposed to. However, I have added birds from other peoples flocks without problem, but it is a possibility. Do not take the old girls if you feel sorry for them, or they look the least bit unhealthy.

But other than that - combining chickens is combining chickens, if you truly have the space for them, it should work out. And you will get eggs right away. But don't be surprised, if they lay for a day or two - then take a break for more than a week. Chickens hate change.

Mrs K

 

[PlotTwistPoultry]

I'm only less concerned about disease because I know my aunt has her flock well cared for. Obviously there's never a 100% guarantee of health but since I'm extremely familiar with where they're coming from and the specific environment they're coming from, I have very little concern about that.

She is also only getting rid of them because she has introduced other breeds with this year's chicks and she's decided these ones are the ones to leave. They're healthy and no known issues to her (or us.) they just happen to be the ones she's decided will leave her current flock because of the new additions.

For the coop and run (tuff shed style built for a max of 30 chickens, and about 250sq run space half covered), we do have the space for them. That being said, I think I'm going to actually keep them in their own area.
Edit: currently have 14 hens and 1 roo.


Since there will only be four, the area we usually keep our meat birds (100sq fully contained run and coop) should be plenty of space for them. Honestly, my husband made the point that it'll be less effort to adjust the empty meat chicken area for a second small flock than try to integrate and make them get used to each other.

We may still eventually do that, but he is also saying we might move these 4 into the freezer when our birds start laying regularly in a couple months.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since there will only be four, the area we usually keep our meat birds (100sq fully contained run and coop) should be plenty of space for them. Honestly, my husband made the point that it'll be less effort to adjust the empty meat chicken area for a second small flock than try to integrate and make them get used to each other.

We may still eventually do that, but he is also saying we might move these 4 into the freezer when our birds start laying regularly in a couple months.

If you're planning on harvesting them then I think it'd be more straightforward to just have them in the 2nd area since you already have it - no real need for integrating them with the rest if they're not sticking around.

 

[PlotTwistPoultry]

If you're planning on harvesting them then I think it'd be more straightforward to just have them in the 2nd area since you already have it - no real need for integrating them with the rest if they're not sticking around.

Yeah, it's just not for sure about harvesting them or not. Then again we can always integrate later if we decide to keep them.

 

[ChaosMom]

Yeah, it's just not for sure about harvesting them or not. Then again we can always integrate later if we decide to keep them.

Exactly. You're fortunate to be able to keep your options open.