Any guidelines on age + introducing new chickens?

[FlockOfGirls]

I have (2) 3+ weekers and (2) 6+ weekers

I just expanded off their baby coop as I call it (2' x 7') - a fenced in yard for them. Today Im building a chicken house/coop from pallets for the outside yard area. Why? Because I want to bring home 2 Rhode Islands that just started to lay. So they are young too.

I'm trying to figure out how to make this work? Do I let the new birds be safe in chicken yard with there own coop.....and only allow my really happy free ranging yard playing chicks to be in there baby coop until older?

Or can I put the new hens in a metal.dog kennel in the chicken yard and let the babies peck around them and the kennel letting them know that the babies have been here first? 4 feeders and 2 large watering systems.

This is my first flock ever

 

[BuffOrpington88]

To avoid bullying when introducing chickens, first allow the flocks to see each other through a fence. After they have become accustomed to each other, allow them to interact while free ranging. The extra space and distractions will allow the newcomers to escape if they are pecked. Then, it is best to leave them in the coop at night when they are sleeping. The two flocks should also be comparable in size before being integrated. For example, 1 week old Wyandottes should not be put with a flock of 3 year old Jersey Giants.

If you notice only occasional bullying behavior, fill a tin can with pebbles and pennies, then put duct tape over the top. Keep this by the coop. Whenever you see bullying behavior, immediately shake the can. The chickens will stop what they’re doing to find out what that awful noise is. If you do this consistently, they should stop.

Good luck!

 

[FlockOfGirls]

Thanks.

I read this in the Learning Center.

But my age groups are highly different.

 

[Den in Penn]

Do the chicks first. Then if you can let the chicks mature in a separate coop, with a fence between. Size difference can be a killer when introducing strangers.