How to introduce two older birds to a younger flock?

[ChikadeeLite]

I have two older girls, and I recently got a flock of pullets because I thought they needed to have more to be healthy (mentally), so I ended up buying 7 pullets, all around 14 weeks of age. They’re disease free, gone through their quarantine and they’re accustomed to the new coop.

I’m not sure how to introduce those two birds, and a lot of information is for younger birds being brought into an older flock, not vice versa.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's the same concept. At 14 weeks your pullets are still immature. The older hens will be dominant. It is possible they will get along in one flock, it is possible you will have two separate flocks until the pullets start laying.

If you can, do a week or more of see-but-don't-touch. Give them as much room as you can when they merge. Provide separated food and water stations widely separated so they can't be bullied off of all of them. If room is tight add some clutter.

Your two older will sleep wherever they want. They may or may not allow the younger to sleep with them. Hopefully your coop is big enough that they can sleep separately if they need to. Hopefully your run is big enough that the young can avoid the old if they need to.

As long as none of them are injured life is good. They will become one big flock when the pullets start to lay. Good luck!