Combined Ages? Help!

[TheChickenMomma]

Hi i am not sure where this goes ((Such a noob. At least to BYC, not chickens))

I was reading my trusty Storeys Guide To Raising Chickens and saw that under major stessers was "combing different ages". I have 7 8 week old chicks that are outside beside my 3 Ageing Hens. We are building a better coop for them and it should be done by Thursday. Then we combine our chicks with our hens.

My major question is:

Will it stress the 8 week chicks and few year hens too much to move and also be combined?

Also, I am new to chicks. You see, we got our hens from a friend as adults. These chicks were also from a friend.
And in other news, i am pretty sure that we have 1 roo with our chicks, and suspecting another.

I know about the whole pecking order thing, and i feel my babies are ready. But not so sure about stress.


Help ME Please!!!!

 

[greenmulberry]

Oh, they will be a little flustered, for sure, but they will get used to it.

Just put some good treats in the coop for them to be distracted by until everyone gets used to the new situation .

 

[TheChickenMomma]

Thank you!

Another question: What happens to an over stressed chicken?

Our girls have never been overstressed. We only have 3 and they live happy lives.
But what about when we get 10 in the same run/coop? All at the same time?

Also, the me and my dad did the math and we can have 27 chickens in our run and 20 in the coop! Providing they all get 3 sq ft in the run and 1 in the coop. I know the size varies.

Even new here, as i said, I am certainly not new to Chickens!