Help - I need advice about adding pullets to my existing flock!!!

[heath_elisha]

we just threw all our birds into the pen/coop with the other birds. once the pecking order was established, they are all great together. no one was severely injured..... happy family now

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
That's how I've always done it too.
However, my experience is limited to several thousand birds over 50 years so I don't know nearly as much as most of the people who post here. Some of the real experts have had as many as 5 chickens for nearly a year.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
That's how I've always done it too.
However, my experience is limited to several thousand birds over 50 years so I don't know nearly as much as most of the people who post here. Some of the real experts have had as many as 5 chickens for nearly a year.

You know, we read horror stories all the time on here about mixing them with disastrous results, but as with diseases, I assume you're more likely to read the bad stuff. It's great to know that it can go this well over this many integrations -- and I don't remember ever reading a post like this before.

 

[MIKE555444]

I would suggest that when you "migrate" them together that you do it when you can personally watch them for a while. I added my younger ones evening then had to go to work the next day... When I got home I actually had to cull 3 of them that had a large place missing from the back of their heads

It was horrible. I separated them again and reintroduced them a month later and had no problems. These only had a divider wire between the two flocks for months.

 

[flgardengirl]

I do it all the time. Do you let yours free range at all? If so you could start out by letting them all freerange together and then separate at night when they are cooped or in the run for a few weeks. Give treats and feed them during the day all in one place so they have to eat together. I have even got full grown roosters from different groups to get along okay this way. There will still be squabbles but hopefully nothing too major. JUst make sure the new ones are pretty close to the same size as the established ones.

 

[Jferlisi]

I have added silkies to a flock of large fowl(LF) and they pecked at one a few times and then she started fighting back the other just ran from them. I have bantams in with my LF right now so i dont think it will be a problem. Also i just put my birds if they are 3 months or older in with everyone and dont have a problem of injuries. You will have pecking here and there no matter what.