Flock integration questions.

[newmarch2014]

I have 4 hens that are 1 year old. They coexist well but "docile" is not a word I would attribute to any of them. I have 4 newbies that are joining the flock this year (they are about 8 weeks old). We are using the pen inside the run method and are in the 2nd day of it. The girls seem to be now ignoring them for the most part. One of the newbies is almost assuredly a Brahma rooster. Is there any added dynamic that I don't know of when I start trying to combine them in about a month since he is already acting like a self confident roo? He bosses his 3 current girls around like no tomorrow. I am planning to wait till they are about 12 weeks to start getting rid of the barrier. Is it more prudent to wait longer? Is it good to do it all at once with all chickens or should I start with my most calm chicken only and then add the others one at a time?

 

[Blackberry18]

I have 4 hens that are 1 year old. They coexist well but "docile" is not a word I would attribute to any of them. I have 4 newbies that are joining the flock this year (they are about 8 weeks old). We are using the pen inside the run method and are in the 2nd day of it. The girls seem to be now ignoring them for the most part. One of the newbies is almost assuredly a Brahma rooster. Is there any added dynamic that I don't know of when I start trying to combine them in about a month since he is already acting like a self confident roo? He bosses his 3 current girls around like no tomorrow. I am planning to wait till they are about 12 weeks to start getting rid of the barrier. Is it more prudent to wait longer? Is it good to do it all at once with all chickens or should I start with my most calm chicken only and then add the others one at a time?

I've mixed chickens twice, with great results. If the chickens are totally ignoring them, then you can remove the barrier very soon. Just let them all go in at once. The cockerel may start to cause some trouble, but the older hens will put him in his place (until he gets bigger).

 

[newmarch2014]

I've mixed chickens twice, with great results. If the chickens are totally ignoring them, then you can remove the barrier very soon. Just let them all go in at once. The cockerel may start to cause some trouble, but the older hens will put him in his place (until he gets bigger).

Thanks!