Combining flocks. Any advice ?

[kinsey228]

I finally combined my 2 flocks today. The older flock consisted of Leghorns,Golden Comets, and EE's that were born in March and April, and the younger flock had Wyandotte/Marans crosses,Wyandottes, Barred Rock, Light Brahma, Australorp, and 3 Guineas that were all between 2-3 1/2 months old. They are all sweet birds. What can I expect ? Are they going to fight ? Do I need to do anything special ?

 

[ranchhand]

I like to pen mine next to each other for a week or two, then I let them all out to free range. At first they spar quite a bit and go back to the separate runs at night. After a week, I close the door on one pen and they all go into the one open one. Takes a while, but seems to go pretty smoothly for me.

Good luck!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'll post my story again here:

Yesterday, I took down the "Berlin Wall", ie, the mesh wall that separated a dozen Barred Rocks/Rhode Island Reds flock that I brooded back in late March/early April with the pen of a dozen year old Red Sex Links. They had spent the last 5 months living together, divided only by a deer fence wall. Since the younger pullets are now dropping little pullet eggs, the time had come. The "new girls" are actually larger, taller and out weigh the RSLs by a pound, but the older RSLs make up for it with their temper and the willingness to be very, very bossy. They'd "free ranged" together for months, mostly keeping their distance. But once together in the barn, look out!!

It has been a bit of a rugged two days, but I think we're mostly through the tough part. RSLs are fairly notorious for being somewhat evil toward new flock mates and this certainly proved true again. Went through this last year integrating Black Sex Links with ISA Browns. Tough stuff that whole chicken society thing. It is amazing. Whew! Glad to be done with it once again.