Combining Flocks

[RedTailRanch6]

Hey all!

So, with the loss of one of my pullets and one of my hens becoming a house chicken (ostracized from the flock after getting sick and so far unable to reintroduce her) I ended up with 4 more pullets. I don't know their exact age, but one of them started laying last week so I am guessing they are in the 6 month range.

I am now faced with trying to combine my new flock (4, 6 month old pullets) with my existing flock (5, 8 month old pullets). They are basically the same size and for the last two weeks plus they have had their coops/runs side-by-side. Do you think that being close to eachother for these two weeks was enough of an "introduction"? Am I safe to try putting them in the same run together? Below is how they've spent the last two weeks (the permanent run is on the right, the temporary on the left. Normally they are out of the coop and in the temporary run, but I was still fitting the roof).

As a secondary question, might this be a good opportunity to try to reintroduce the house chicken amongst all of the hubbub?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would personally let them all out of their runs to interact a bit outside, are you planning on trying to put some from one pen into the other, also if letting them out in the yard isn't an option than putting up some temporary connection between the doors might work as well, and yes I would try to get the other hen into the mix.

Putting one group into the others pen might cause fighting. You are probably going to need a bit more room than that for that many chickens, crowding and boredom equals pecking, take those suggested square footage and at least triple it, otherwise you will end up with troubles later on when your hens start to lay, then they really get moody and territorial.

 

[RedTailRanch6]

Putting one group into the others pen might cause fighting. You are probably going to need a bit more room than that for that many chickens, crowding and boredom equals pecking, take those suggested square footage and at least triple it, otherwise you will end up with troubles later on when your hens start to lay, then they really get moody and territorial.

Thanks for the insights! The main run, where I hope to have them together, is about 16'x20'x6' with the coop being 6'x7'x6'. Inside the coop there are 6 nest boxes and a number of branches/shelves to add more space to get away from each other. In the run there are a few sets of bushes/branches that they play around in. They are never locked in the coop as the run is VERY secure *knock on wood* While I am hoping to get them outside as much as possible, I have a lot of predators and can not do so unless I am around, so for these purposes I won't count on it. I was thinking that this would be enough space for 9 (or 10)?

I should have also mentioned that the original flock is all laying now, I average 4 eggs per day from the 5 of them.

 

[allpeepedout]

I recently introduced a new flock to an old flock with apparent success. Like you, I ran them side by side but for 3 weeks and fed up both flocks up against the common line per advice from a breeder.

I started putting mine together just a short period of time before their bedtime each night, with supervision. In the evening, with crops full, they seem less energetic. Then I started leaving them together a bit longer. I had lots of room and lots of places to hide and escape.

Yes, I would think with the group would also be best to reintegrate your house hen. Good luck.