How long does it take?

[ging3rhoffman]

How long does it take for hens to adjust to one another? I now have 12 pullets that are 6 weeks old. For a colorful egg basket I wanted to add a welsummer and to add the color of white to my flock i wanted to get a columbian wyandotte.

I wont be able to get the new chicks for 3 to 4 weeks and then they have to be in their brooder for awhile. How hard is it to make this happen without bloodshed or torture?

 

[peckndirt]

Anywhere from days to weeks.You can put them in a cage inside the pen for a day or so and that tends to help,also if you are adding more than one ,do it at the same time.The best way is to move them all at the same time to a strange pen so they have common ground.You can move them back later.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Thank you so much or answering my post. I really want a calm quiet hen house.

 

[Judy]

I have seen several posts here that talk about having them separate but where they can see each other for two to four weeks before combining them. Many say to do the actual combining either while free ranging so they can get away from each other, or at night while on the roost.

Good luck.