I have a mixed age/breed flock. Yes, I made the new chicken keeper's mistake of buying chicks nearly every time I went to the feed
I couldn't help it! The more I learned about them, the more breeds I just HAD to have. So, here is my problem-
Flock #1-
5 chickens total
Olive- 6 mo old Silkie pullet and head hen
3 Barred Rocks- hatched March 13th
a Sultan- hatched around March 13th
Despite the age difference, I combined them all in a brooder from day one with no issues. Olive made a great broody mama to the little chicks.
Flock #2-
5 chickens total
2 Golden Laced Wyandottes- hatched on March 28th
Buff Orpington & California Gray- hatched April 11th
I tried to put the Wyandottes with Flock #1 and had to pull them and put them in a separate brooder. I had another chick, a cuckoo Marans, and she died. The Buff Orpington and California Gray were replacements for her. I'm great at Chicken Math already!
The Orpington and California Gray went in with the Wyandottes with no issues. I managed 2 separate brooders until Flock #1 went out to the coop 2 weeks ago.
This past weekend, I decided I was done with brooders and moved Flock #2 into the chicken wired off nesting boxes. They have a heat lamp and have been doing fine. Both flocks can see each other through the chicken wire, but not cause any damage. They all huddle under the heat lamp, even the older flock. I let them all out during the day in a good-sized fenced yard with minimal issues. Flock #2 hides from Flock #1 occasionally and sometimes the Barred Rocks chase the babies, but nothing that gets out of hand. I put separate food and water dishes out for each flock and this works. (are you still reading all of this? THANK YOU!)
How am I going to combine both distinct flocks? I learned about the separate pen for the new flock, so they can see each other, but remain safe. The smallest in Flock #2 is the California Gray. She's got most of her feathers, but is still very small compared to the Orpington hatched on the same day. Will I need to wait until she's a lot bigger to make this work? The bigger girls in her flock protect her and she sometimes huddles under them. I think she'll continue to get picked on until she's a lot bigger. I'm half tempted to put her and the Orpington back into a brooder, and move the 3 bigger girls into the coop with Flock #1...but then I'll have 3 flocks to combine! ARGH.
I wouldn't stagger them again like this, it's a royal pain! Advice please, from experienced chicken keepers?
p.s. To add to all of the "flock drama," one of the Barred Rocks is a rooster! He's starting to get aggressive and picks on everyone, even the bigger girls. I'm working on rehoming him.
I couldn't help it! The more I learned about them, the more breeds I just HAD to have. So, here is my problem-
Flock #1-
5 chickens total
Olive- 6 mo old Silkie pullet and head hen
3 Barred Rocks- hatched March 13th
a Sultan- hatched around March 13th
Despite the age difference, I combined them all in a brooder from day one with no issues. Olive made a great broody mama to the little chicks.
Flock #2-
5 chickens total
2 Golden Laced Wyandottes- hatched on March 28th
Buff Orpington & California Gray- hatched April 11th
I tried to put the Wyandottes with Flock #1 and had to pull them and put them in a separate brooder. I had another chick, a cuckoo Marans, and she died. The Buff Orpington and California Gray were replacements for her. I'm great at Chicken Math already!

The Orpington and California Gray went in with the Wyandottes with no issues. I managed 2 separate brooders until Flock #1 went out to the coop 2 weeks ago.
This past weekend, I decided I was done with brooders and moved Flock #2 into the chicken wired off nesting boxes. They have a heat lamp and have been doing fine. Both flocks can see each other through the chicken wire, but not cause any damage. They all huddle under the heat lamp, even the older flock. I let them all out during the day in a good-sized fenced yard with minimal issues. Flock #2 hides from Flock #1 occasionally and sometimes the Barred Rocks chase the babies, but nothing that gets out of hand. I put separate food and water dishes out for each flock and this works. (are you still reading all of this? THANK YOU!)
How am I going to combine both distinct flocks? I learned about the separate pen for the new flock, so they can see each other, but remain safe. The smallest in Flock #2 is the California Gray. She's got most of her feathers, but is still very small compared to the Orpington hatched on the same day. Will I need to wait until she's a lot bigger to make this work? The bigger girls in her flock protect her and she sometimes huddles under them. I think she'll continue to get picked on until she's a lot bigger. I'm half tempted to put her and the Orpington back into a brooder, and move the 3 bigger girls into the coop with Flock #1...but then I'll have 3 flocks to combine! ARGH.
I wouldn't stagger them again like this, it's a royal pain! Advice please, from experienced chicken keepers?
p.s. To add to all of the "flock drama," one of the Barred Rocks is a rooster! He's starting to get aggressive and picks on everyone, even the bigger girls. I'm working on rehoming him.