Another question about mixed ages....sorry....

[Katy]

This thread is an example of why I don't put younger chicks in with older chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=64972

 

[apetelo]

Well, I am so glad that I posted this question, because now I can avoid a potentially dangerous situation for my chicks. I would be devastated if anything happened to them, esp. by some new laying hens that I am not attached to yet. So, I think I've figured out a way to make this work. One section of the run is off to the side of the coop and the other part of the run attached to the front of the coop. So, I think that I am going to add a temporary divider in the coop and the run. Then I will add a 2nd chicken door for the chicks to go into their side of the run. Not sure if I should repost this question in a different section....but, will a wire/plywood divider in the coop be enough to protect the chicks from disease or should I not even have the new hens in proximity of the chicks. Also, I am getting the hens from a friend of my brothers, so I am fairly confident that they are healthy. Thank you!!

 

[dacasodivine]

I had some chicks around the same age when I decided I wasn't patient enough to wait for them to grow up and lay. So, I went and bought 4 hens and put them and the chicks together in a large coop and yard. No problems mixing them.

I had chick feed in one dish and layer pellet in another. That was a problem though because the hens prefered the chick food which left the chicks to eat the layer pellets. I did have to get creative on that so only the chicks could eat out of the one dish. With two seperate feeding areas, everyone gets plenty to eat.

I guess I'm sadistic because I decided to chance my luck again and went out a couple weeks ago and bought 15 hens/pullets. My chicks are 3 months old. Some of the new pullets aren't much older than my chicks and others are between 6 months and a year. Once again, no problems. I don't know if it's because I'm lucky or just that I made sure everyone had plenty of room. They are usually let out to freerange during the day but have a large yard and coop.

Good luck