I've got a flock of australorps ( 12 hens, 1 Roo ) that forage a penned-in garden/compost area, about 100ft x 80ft, and a small flock of free ranging mixed breeds that forage our yard/stream area (7 hens/ 1 buff orpington rooster). I'd like suggestions on moving the smaller flock into the pen for the winter time. Both flocks have interacted through the fences, and until we slaughtered our turkey tom last weekend, he was the only one interested in showing dominance between the three of them. (He free ranged with the smaller flock). The Australorp Roo is over a year old, and the Orpington Roo is about 7 months. They crow back and forth, but I haven't seen them posturing towards each other through the fences. Neither one of them is aggressive towards us either. Think I can make it work? Thank you!
That one's a toss up IMO. But you have plenty of room and plenty of hens. They might each tend to their own flock and be ok. If you try it keep a close eye on 'em for awhile in case they decide to be ugly about it. You may also have the whole bunch trying to re-establish the pecking order.
