How to introduce new adult chickens to pre existing 10 week old chickens?

[jenniferlamar70]

So I purchased my first chickens a few months ago. I didn't dip my toe in I wholeheartedly dived in lol. My oldest chickens right now are 10 week old easter egger,2, 6 week old sex links and 3 polish bantams. They all are in the run together and at night the bantams go into a separate smaller coop. I just bought 5 new adult chickens. 2 Ameracaunas,2 cuckoo marans and 1 unknown lol. How do I introduce older chickens into a pen with younger chickens?

 

[Folly's place]

After at least three week having the new birds FAR AWAY downwind, in isolation, then move them next to the flock but separated by a wire fence for a week or so. Then let them all free range together, and separate at night, and finally let them mingle all the time. It will be a process that just takes a while, and your young birds will get lessons in deportment too. Mary

 

[two j farm]

I put my younger chicken in a wire pen inside the pen with the older chicken so the can see the but not hurt them through the wire for about a week then I move them to the roost at nite so they wake up with them. Works for me. Sure others will have advice.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

After at least three week having the new birds FAR AWAY downwind, in isolation, then move them next to the flock but separated by a wire fence for a week or so.  Then let them all free range together, and separate at night, and finally let them mingle all the time.  It will be a process that just takes a while, and your young birds will get lessons in deportment too.  Mary

Unfortunately we don't free range. They all have their own coop. Do I still need to quarantine if I know the people we got them from really well? A friend of my husbands who is a vet tech. I know they haven't ever been ill..

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I put my younger chicken in a wire pen inside the pen with the older chicken so the can see the but not hurt them through the wire for about a week then I move them to the roost at nite so they wake up with them. Works for me. Sure others will have advice.

I was doing the same thing when I was introducing my younger chickens to my older established ones but now this is backwards lol. Introducing older ones to my younger established and much smaller flock. Do i still do it the same way then?

 

[two j farm]

I would do it the same way.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I would do it the same way.

Ok will do. Thanks for the help.

 

[BruceAZ]

a picture is a thousand words and a video is a thousand pictures

 

[jenniferlamar70]

a picture is a thousand words and a video is a thousand pictures

Lol thanks for the video. I've actually already read quite a bit on integration. Much more in depth stuff. Unfortunately none of it has information on introducing older birds into a flock of younger birds. This is where I became stumped. Thanks for your help.

 

[aart]

Quote: That's not a bad video, tho rather shallow on info, probably the only viable chicken info I've ever gotten from TSC.....
.....now if they'd only stop selling those stupid tiny 'cardboard' coops.....haha!

Bringing adults into a flock of chicks is probably much the same except the adults could kick the chicks butts due to sheer size.
You'll need a 'look but no touch' area for the adults for several weeks, that will give your existing birds some more time to grow more and become a 'unit..
Lots of space, with places for the harassed to refuge, multiple feed/water stations, etc.
You'll have to watch carefully for injurious trouble when you finally let the adults mingle with the younger birds.