Freedom Rangers and Rhode Island Reds

[bman12]

We raised Freedom Rangers for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. We are planning another batch this spring but are thinking of adding a few Rhode Island Reds to keep as egg layers. I had good luck last year with free ranging and would like to free range all of the birds together until the Freedom Rangers are butchered. If I did 25 Freedom Rangers and 5 Reds are there going to be issues with this. From what I have read it seems fine but just wanted to ask peoples opinion. I also wanted to ask should I get them near the same time or should I get the Reds a little sooner. I assume the Reds will grow slower and my thought is having them a little older may keep them from being picked on as the small birds. I was thinking 1-2 weeks but not really sure on this.

Thanks

Bart

 

[AGeese]

Welcome to BYC. They'll be fine together, but if you get any birds at different times you'll have to slowly integrate them into the established flock which is a process.