Combing Flocks of Different Ages

[Messiahjensen]

Hello all! We have two different flocks of chickens. First, our eldest flock, thirteen beautiful hens from our local farm supply store that we started our chicken journey with last Spring. All in full swing laying consistently 8-10 a day! Next, our younger bunch of pure bred, mail order beauties that arrived this Spring!

Both groups of girls are housed separately for now. We've just finished "Coop Castle" and are excited to be introducing the ladies to their new home very soon! However, I'm unsure of how to integrate the two flocks without any big ordeals between them.

Please help me figure this out! We're all anxiously awaiting their homecoming. Offer any advice that may spare my birds the discontentment and violence of integration while keeping both sets of hens safe and happy.

Thank u for your assistance!!

 

[iwiw60]

The best thing you can do when introducing your new birds to the established flock is to separate them within the coop and run. You can use some chicken wire of sorts to barricade them off...this enables 'them' to see 'they' and 'they' to see 'them' without fighting, pecking, etc., which can lead to a bloody mess. This can take up to 2-3 weeks, Best of luck and keep us updated!

 

[Mrs. K]

If I am reading this right, you now have 3 coops (envious)? Each group has a coop, and you have built a new coop that you want to put everyone in.

If you add it up, as plus and minuses, will tell you how hard the integration will go.

Older birds get + and Younger birds get -, however, if you have more younger birds than older birds, that is a +.
Home territory gets +, and new territory gets -

But the big one is size- bigger birds can pick pretty hard on younger birds, unless you have a broody hen. If they are close to the same size, it won't be much of a transition, or too much aggression, all the chickens will be in a strange place. Put them in the run just before dark, and they should be fine by morning.

If they are not the same size, I would wait.

Mrs K