Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking that I can get a big wire dog pen and put the little guys in it inside the coop and then move the dog pen into the run during the day. I don't think hubby will be too fond of all the moving around though. They are totally feathered and the brooding pen isn't high enough for them to be able to roost in it so I would love to get them into the coop but it sounds like I am going to have to wait another 8 weeks or so til they are almost as big as our old ones. the goal is to have one big happy flock. Fortunately our girls are very docile but the roo is ....well roo-ish!
I WOULD NOT put them together yet!!! We raise chickens until they are old enough to live outside (feathered out) and then sell them. Of course we keep some for our own flock. I have pullets of mixed ages with a few weeks between then but I would not suggest putting the little guys in with the full grown hens until they are close to the same size. Even when they are first introduced I would make sure that they have a safe place to get away form the bigger hens. If possible it would be better if you are introducing a larger group of little ones to the bigger ones. Let me explain!!! If you have 5 hens, I would not introduce just 2 little ones, introduce 5 or more. Strength in numbers! And just keep an eye on them to make sure that they are not picking on the little guys.
Thanks so much for your suggestions. When you put your 8 week old in the outside pen is it attached to a coop? I want them to be sheltered. Hubby thinks we should put them in a dog pen and keep it in the coop and not let them go out into the run. I just don't want them to not be able to run and scratch, they can't do that if we keep them cooped up.I WOULD NOT put them together yet!!! We raise chickens until they are old enough to live outside (feathered out) and then sell them. Of course we keep some for our own flock. I have pullets of mixed ages with a few weeks between then but I would not suggest putting the little guys in with the full grown hens until they are close to the same size. Even when they are first introduced I would make sure that they have a safe place to get away form the bigger hens. If possible it would be better if you are introducing a larger group of little ones to the bigger ones. Let me explain!!! If you have 5 hens, I would not introduce just 2 little ones, introduce 5 or more. Strength in numbers! And just keep an eye on them to make sure that they are not picking on the little guys.
We keep the day old pullets in a wire kennel lined with chicken wire. When they are about three weeks old they go into the "nursery" where they will stay until they are about 8 weeks old. Then they go outside to a pen, next to our hens and will stay there until they are about 4 months old (or when they look ready!!) then we will put them in with the hens. We usually have 15-25 hens and will introduce the same number of little ones. There are many places for them to hid. KEEP IN MIND, when you do introduce them they might get picked on a little. THis is natural. They are just establishing their "pecking order". as long as one isn't being beaten up they should be fine.
Good luck
Good luck with your chicks too!
