Ideas for introducing newbies to oldies

[Rhonda0115]

I have an established flock of 4 hens and a rooster (two ducks also live with them). They are about a year old. It seems to work and they (the ducks & hens) share the same coop/nesting box and the rooster is super viligant with his 'ladies'.

I have 6 pullets that are about 8 weeks old and 7 ducklings. I wondered how the best approach would be to 'introduce' the pullets to the hens/rooster combo and if I should move the older ducks with the new ducklings. Kind of afraid my ducks would stop laying if I change their 'home'.

Sooooo....

a) Do I try to introduce the pullets to the established flock and hope for the best?
b) Just let the pullets be their own group and leave the established flock alone?
c) Move the ducks into their own home and introduce the ducklings and hope for the best?
d) leave everyone alone and have 3 runs (established, new pullets and new ducklings)?

 

[Mattemma]

I add my 5 EE hens to older RSL hens when they were 16-18 weeks old,and ready to go on layer pellets. I added them at night into the coop. No idea on what I would do with the ducks.

 

[Den in Penn]

I try to let them see each other for a while before I put them together. A period when they can interact through a fence or partition in the coop. Then let them free range at the same time. Finally putting them together in the same coop.

 

[JulieChilders]

Thank you for asking this question as I had the same one. Even bigger thank you's go out all of you who answered the questions!

 

[azygous]

So is this thread over? Sometimes I climb on board after the OP thanks everyone and runs off! Oh well.

The best way to integrate smalls with large is the panic room. What you do is establish a safe area, even just a dog crate modified with small pop holes I'll get to, and the smalls have a place to run to for safety. Their food and water is inside and they won't get chased away from getting enough to eat.

I section off a corner of the run and cut pop holes into the sides just large enough for the smalls to get through and not the large ones. I go a step further and cut pop holes in any barrier where a small could get boxed in and cornered by a large. This way, I've managed to easily integrate pullets from age four weeks. Before that, I've had the baby chicks in the panic room during the warm part of the day, getting to know the flock without mingling with them.

Integrating them into the coop is a bit more stressful. I usually clear out all the large ones after everyone has finished laying for the day, lock them out, and install the six-week to eight-week olds. They have several hours before roosting time to acclimate to their new digs, and when the large ones are let in, not a minute before it's almost too dark to see, roosting usually goes without incident.

Next morning, the pullets get chased out, but know to run to their panic room for safety. At roosting time, they'll need help for a week or so to go into the coop at night. I usually partition off one end of the perch so they don't get knocked off. You need to referee for a few weeks at roosting time, but this way, you can integrate pullets long before they acquire full size, saving lots of time and bother.

 

[Rhonda0115]

I worked with my ducks this weekend. My mama ducks are very bonded to each other and live with the hens/rooster flock in the same run/coop. Ended up letting them free range in my fenced in yeard with the ducklings inside of it. Of course, I was there to watch over what might happen but the Mama's were much more interested in playing in their swimming pool and eating grass than the ducklings. The ducklings watched the Mamas but really weren't too interested in what they were doing. They stayed together all day with no problems. Today I went to let the Mama's eat in the yard and they wanted in the same pen as the ducklings. I allowed it and everyone got along fine. I don't trust them to stay overnight together (plus I don't have the ability to lock them up yet). So far, so good.

I moved the pullets in to a run next door to the established flock. So far everyone just kind of ignores each other. Hopefully I can try to let them free range together some (while I watch over it).

Thank you to everyone for your great ideas and suggestions!!