Are they ready for the coop?

[myfivehens]

Ok, we have 4 17 week old BO and two bantams in the coop already. We also have 6 9 week old pullets we've been slowly trying to introduce. They are at the point where they are able to be with them during the day with only minor pecking. So, my question...are they ready to be cooped up with the big girls at night? I guess I just have this horrible mental image of them getting pecked to death during the night but maybe I'm overreacting?

 

[nbenevento]

You are not overreacting. It can and has happened. Maybe stretch out the safe time together as long as you. Can you separate them with a wire or something for a week or two? I don't combine birds until they are roughly the same size and still I keep them separated by a cage for a while.

 

[myfivehens]

I didn't even think about putting wire in the coop but I'll have to look into that. They're still going into the garage at night and my husband is beyond ready to get them out