Advice on how to mingle hens and pullets, please!

[tcbosco1]

I had a small flock of 5 hens (all the same age - 3 yrs) and recently lost two. I wish to purchase two more pullets, but I am concerned about how to feed them all correctly - the new ones will require growth formula, while the older ones eat layer pellets.

I was hoping to be able to put them all in the same coop, as I really have no other place to keep them. I understand that there is a process to introducing the ladies, but I am more worried about feeding them all. Can I simply mix the two types of food?

How is it done when the hen raises her own chicks?

 

[tcbosco1]

P.S. The newbies will be about 8 weeks old.

 

[Allen095]

You could put them both on a flock raiser type feed and supplement a good supply of oyster shells or try moving the layer pellets up higher so that the smaller chickens couldn't reach. I don't think it would hurt them to eat either type of feed.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Is there any way you can set up a small area adjacent to your hen's coop for the pullets? They shouldn't eat layer feed until they are 17 weeks old, and would probably be picked on by the mature hens. If you can pen the pullets right next to tthe hens, the two groups can get used to each other, and then one night when the time is right, you move them in when everyone is asleep.

 

[TN_BIRD]

You can use the flock raiser type of feed for them all.

Might also adjust the height of the feeders.

Put feed in a couple different spots in the coop and feed the older hens first. The older ones will probably get a little territorial and keep the young ones at bay. The young ones might huddle in a corner and you can then put their food near them.

In the end, unless you are going to totally segregate them you can't really keep em from eating one another's food.

 

[Snegurochka]

Yes, you don't want your chicks eating layer feed because the extra calcium is bad for them, but I think once they get close to full-sized it shouldn't hurt them much. I would keep the chicks separated in their own pen until they get big. My nestboxes are up in the air so I made a wire pen to go underneath for the babies to live in.

Also you might think about getting 3 new pullets instead of 2, so that if one dies, you won't be stuck with one chick without a friend.

 

[tcbosco1]

Thanks for all the good advice.

I only have room in the "condo" for two more without getting into an overcrowded situation. I was hoping that by getting 8 week old pullets that I would be beyond the fragile chick stage.

I will look into the "flock raiser" feed.

I don't really have a secure pen where I could keep them (outdoors) other than the coop where the "grown-ups" live. I suppose I could keep them in the house a while until they get bigger. By the way, how big is big enough?! : )

 

[Snegurochka]

I'd wait until they are almost the same size as the adult hens.

 

[Judy]

Best to integrate when all are about the same size. Perhaps you could make a day pen next to the one you have.

This is a good article on integrating flocks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[Christie Rhae]

We built an adjacent pen for your younger girls until they were same size as hens then cut a large opening to create a larger pen. For a long time I had to put food and water in both sides of the pen cuz older girls would not let younger ones eat on their side. But they would help themselves to the younger girls food. lol