Flock management questions

[jnicholes]

Hello,

I have some questions I would like to ask about flock management.

Right now, I have nine Golden sex links. I’ve had them since March 2017 when they were born. I was collecting eggs for the past week, when I noticed that I’m getting a lot less eggs than usual. I began charting how many eggs I get a day. Instead of nine eggs a day which is what I always got, it has lowered to about seven or six a day. I’m beginning to think that the laying is slowing down.

I’m starting to think that I should get some new hens for the flock, so that when these one stop laying, I have some that are starting to lay.

I have multiple questions about doing this. The questions are as follows:

First, how exactly do I introduce younger hens to an older flock? I hear there is a process.

Second, what breeds of chickens go well together? Is a mixed flock better than a flock that is all the same?

Third, what breeds would you recommend for egg laying and/or meat production?

Finally, is what I’m thinking a good idea?

Any help will be appreciated,

Jared

 

[Kessel23]

Usually a production hen, like a sexlink, will lay strong for up to 3 years. I do not think they should be slowing down at 1 year. Are you sure that some of the hens aren't molting? What are you feeding them?

 

[chickengirl778]

They may just be slowing down because it's getting quite hot, but getting new girls would still be good for next year.
advice from another thread:
"put the chickens you are trying to introduce in some sort of enclosed fenced area so they can get used to the other chickens in the flock. Keep them in this for the whole time - make sure they have everything they need, (Food, water, shelter, some space to roam around, etc.). After a little bit, whenever you're ready, and you think the chickens are getting along on different sides of the fence, try letting the chickens you are trying to introduce with the rest of the flock, and sit there and watch to make sure nothing goes wrong. Give it some time, and whenever you think they're ready, and make sure they aren't getting picked on or anything, you can try putting them together for long/longer periods of time. I would, if I were you, keep them separate during feeding, and at night and all. This is personally what I would do, (and did with my flock when introducing.) Hope all works out! "
dual purpose breeds are Australorps, Delawares, Rhode Island Reds, and Sussex.
With proper introduction, they will do great together! My flock is many different breeds!

 

[BlackHackle]

I don't know what to tell you...when breeding is over for the year and mix my entire flocks of like 25 different breeds including about 120 birds together. All different ages as well...and I use no introduction tequniques.

 

[jnicholes]

Hello,

Three years, huh? What I read, and I don’t know if it was accurate, I thought it was 1 to 2 years. Glad I’m getting information from a reliable source.

I have been feeding them egg producer feed. So far, they don’t show signs of molting.

I might still get new chicks for next year.

Jared

 

[Mrs. K]

I go for separating them in the flock as advised above, but I like a one way gate, such as a lattice panel. Inside the safe zone, there is food water and a huddle box and wind protection.

I let the layers out of the run, and set this up, and as the chicks explore, I chase them a bit, so they figure out the safety zone is a good place to be when being chased. After that, they make the transition on their terms. When they get brave, they try exploring out of the safety zone, and when they get scared, they scurry back to safety, much like a chick does a broody hen.

With in a week, they were fine in the set up with the big girls. And I take the panels down. As Ridgerunner often points out, room is crucial, and I have a large run with many hide outs, and multiple feed stations. After 2 weeks in the run with the big girls, I shut off the huddle box, and the chicks will follow the hens into the coop. Another week and I add a board to the roosts, and the chicks are roosting up with the big girls.

Letting the chicks control the introduction and having a safe zone works a treat.

 

[Peeps61]

Hello,

I have some questions I would like to ask about flock management.

Right now, I have nine Golden sex links. I’ve had them since March 2017 when they were born. I was collecting eggs for the past week, when I noticed that I’m getting a lot less eggs than usual. I began charting how many eggs I get a day. Instead of nine eggs a day which is what I always got, it has lowered to about seven or six a day. I’m beginning to think that the laying is slowing down.

I’m starting to think that I should get some new hens for the flock, so that when these one stop laying, I have some that are starting to lay.

I have multiple questions about doing this. The questions are as follows:

First, how exactly do I introduce younger hens to an older flock? I hear there is a process.

Second, what breeds of chickens go well together? Is a mixed flock better than a flock that is all the same?

Third, what breeds would you recommend for egg laying and/or meat production?

Finally, is what I’m thinking a good idea?

Any help will be appreciated,

Jared

Do you free range your birds? If so, they may be laying elsewhere. As far as new birds, I've always kept a multi-generational flock and they lay very well all year long when you do this. I have orphintons that are 5 years old now and don't lay much, but the newer girls still lay almost every day.

 

[lazy gardener]

Production birds lay very well for the first season. They lay slightly fewer eggs, but those eggs are larger during their second season. Shell quality may start to decline. The following season, production will decline even further, as will shell quality... if the bird has not yet succumbed to reproductive illness.

For this reason, I will not keep production birds (hatchery sex links). I like a mixed flock, and keep my own rooster so that I can breed my new replacement chicks. I start a few new chicks every year, and sell some of my older birds. My flock typically has birds from chick -> 2 or 3 year olds. I breed some of my own sex links (these are not the same as the hatchery production sex links). My sex links have walnut combs and produce blue, aqua, olive, green, brown or tan colored eggs.

 

[RWise]

I love my mixed flock, I also hatch my own chicks (EEs) every year and sell some little birds, with a few older girls and a roo. I let go of most that are 3 YO, but have kept a couple of older birds. I also avoid sex links, for the reason already stated.
I use an incubator, the chicks go to the outdoor brood house at 2-3 days old where the older birds can see, visit but no touchy. At 5 weeks old they are moved to the main coop to free range with the older girls. I only use 5 weeks as I have cats they must be able to avoid. Also at 5 weeks they are roosting.
IF I have a hen hatch, she has the chicks in the flock at 2-3 days old, and on the roost at 4 week old, even in the winter.
I will also bring in new DNA from time to time, 3 (2 GEMs and a Delaware) pullets and a new splash EE roo this year.