all, I am not sure where to put this post so mods move it if need be! This maybe long but I need advice from all the experts please 1st let me say that in 1 pen I have 7 hens & 2 roosters, I know the odds there isn't good so Jan.30 I got my 25 pullets from Ideal. The plan there is to add the 25 pullets to the current grown flock of 7. Now these babies are all 3 months old and are outside in the growout pen, my 1st question there is are they old enough now to intergrate with the 7 grown birds? Would they be fine? Also in the house I have 6 5 week old birds in the brooder that I would like to transfer outside, I asked hubby about making a pen for them and he isn't thrilled about my building yet another pen, so my 2nd question is if the 25 3 month old pullets can't be intergrated with the adults yet, would it be safe to put the 6 5 week olds in with them? Should I build another temp pen for the 5 week olds? I am running out of options here.
My guess is you'll just have to try it and see which integration works better for you. Can the groups of chickens see or hear each other...meaning are the pens near each other, or far away? Can you put them in the same pen, but separated by either putting one group in a kennel or putting up some chicken wire or fencing so they can see each other but not be able to pick or fight? Maybe you could judge their reactions to each other without too much risk.
Your 3 month olds should be close to the size of the older chickens so i would try that first. I think there is too much size diff. between the 3mts. and 5 weeks chicks. Good Luck
