Blending Flocks

[oktx]

I have three adult A&M quail, 2 females 1 male that are about 4 1/2 months old. I also have 4 1-week old brown coturnix. I am not sure yet of the sex of one but the other three are for sure female.

When the browns get big enough to go outside into their new coop, I was thinking about slowly introducing my established trio. What is the best way to go about this without having them get into fights? Does anyone have a suggested timeline of how long they need to get used to seeing each other before they decide the other flock is OK?

If it makes any difference, the younger ones will be going into the new large coop (it is 3' x 6' x 18" plus an uppper roost area loft).

 

[oktx]

Here is the new coop:

Here's the old coop:


I'll be adding a "window" on one side of the old coop with wire covering next week when I do some mods to the old coop.

 

[oktx]

I'd really like if someone could tell me something about my question. I know I'm not the only person who's ever wanted to blend two flocks of different ages.

 

[TwoCrows]

There is a few ways to blend flocks together. You can move everybody to a completely new territory, and then the aggression to defend ones old territory is gone. Hence, the fighting is minimal. Another way is to put the new birds in a cage in with the old birds so everybody sees everybody. You can also do with with a dividing fence of hardware cloth within the same pen. Nobody touches each other, but they see one another and can work out aggressions from behind wire. Leave them this way for a few weeks. Generally they have gotten past the extreme aggression, and there is minimal fighting.

When the big day comes to mix the flocks, stand guard for a while. Check on them several times a day and even a week later, just to make sure nobody is being harmed. Intervene long before the blood flows. If somebody just refuses to get along, you can either eat them, or find others that will get along with them and keep them separate.