combining my flock

[Seesagirl]

I have six pullets that are about eight weeks old, seven that are about four weeks old, and two that are about two weeks old. The youngest two and one of the four weekers are straight run bantams. The four week bantam and one of the eight week pullets are looking or acting like roos, but of course too early to tell. The big ones were kept in a playpen, the mediums in a box next to it where they could see each other. They went outside in a temporary pen during nice weather while we finished building our coop, big and medium together with no separation, although they tended to flock into two groups. The babies were added to the medium box when we got them, but have yet to go outside.

We finished the coop and put the big girls in two days ago and they are loving it. The mediums moved to the playpen and the babies are alone in the box. We tried to leave the other bantam with them, but she/he pitched a loud fit until we relented and moved him/her to the playpen.

So my thinking was to add the medium girls tonight or tomorrow at bedtime to the coop, then let the babies feather out some more and add them in a week or so. I know they need to stay in the coop for a few days to recognize it as home before being let out into the run. Should we wait until the big girls are allowed in the run before we add the medium batch? Should we add the babies at the same time?

If it helps, the big girls are one Buff Orp, one EE, two RIRs (possible one roo here), two Rocks. The mediums are four Wyandottes, two Australorps, and one d'Uccle bantam (possible roo). The babies are Silkies.

 

[curious chickee]

When adding I would block off a section so they can see each other but not get to each other, then after about a week add them together at night. Make sure the mediums have some hiding spots where they can get away from the bigger ones. Then once the little ones a feathered out then repeat the process.