Adding to the Family

[colonel sander]

Ok I searched but got tired of all the same terms being matched. Here is my deal I have 3, 22 week old hens and now have 3, 8 week old hens ready to go out in the coop. So question is what do I need to do if anything? Also what about the food? Older ones are eating layer feed (although am still waiting for eggs) and younger ones are still on starter. I let my older oned free range so need to get a fenced in area done so I can keep them all close to the coop until the younger ones get older. Anyway thanks in advance for any thoughts

 

[SteveBaz]

I just posted this into another thread and being lazy but is perfect;

I integrated 2 groups successfully but it 2 weeks to do and glad it worked out. I put the young 6 weekers in a large parrot cage where they where safe and put them together in the coop and let the other girls stay for a few hours the first day. The next day I opened the door to the parrot cage and let the go into the coop my all day while the other girls where in the run. I intentionally put water and food right next to each other but having the wire separate them so they could see each other while eating bc this is where the pecking order for sure is to happen. Now that they are kind of eating around each other there is an acceptance in some way or recognition. From the 3rd day on they went out in the coop in the morning to the coop without the carry cage. Day 10 I left 1 most curious girl with them very low on the pecking order in the coop with me in there ( nervous daddy ) to protect and interact with them I threw spaghetti out so Mable would share with them and then the next day I opened the coop and watched from the window helpless to do a thing if it happened but they really turned into 2 little self contained flocks running around in 1 run to be honest with you. I will be doing it once again with the new Polish kids coming and the 8th week will be turning my back and walking away looking through the kitchen window helpless to just trust.

I would mix some medicated feed for all the birds. I don't think other than calcium like ground oyster shells are missing. Throw down some grit and or a sand box and your good.