I have three 11 month old hens and 7 that are less than 2 months (hatched 9-15) although they look much bigger to me. Anyway they are out growing the brooder. Do you think I can integrate them, if I do it at night? Here are a few of the little girls:
It will probably look scary...aggresive!! I would test the water and see what they do.. Let one go with the big girls while your there and see how they act towards the little ones..there will be pecking and chasing but as long as the little ones have a break..then i believe in a couple of weeks they will cope togather.. I usaualy wait till they have a chance to defend themselfs..3 1/2 months or so.. If you have no other choice just make sure the little ones have a safe place to go,a small sqeeze that the big girls cant get too...
I would let ONE of your older girls in with the group of young ones since you have more youngsters. More power for the young ones that way, and put the older one in a lower position. Then gradually add the older chickens if all works out. Good luck, I'll be doing this in the spring so I'd like to know what to do. Mac
I would never try to mix older with younger unless the young ones are close to 20 weeks old. If you can provide introduction with seperation from the older ones, then you are on a successful path. Just a chicken wire barrior is all that is needed to get the older ones use to the newbies. Remember that the new ones are moving into the present flocks home... eating their food, drinking their water, sleeping where i sleep etc.... How would you like a guest to stay forever without even being invited? Easy does it in the chicken world... no different than you and me right? bigzio
Hello, I have to agree with bigzio on this one... I did this same thing years ago and separated off a large section inside the chicken house with chicken wire and put the little ones in there and let them have their own space but yet be a part of the big girl crowd. I had a few bossy hens pace around the pen like they wanted a piece of the little ones but after a few days it seem like they didn't pay much attention. I think I kept them like that for a week or two, it did work altho' I did keep a watchful eye on them for awhile once they were all together... Good luck to you and your girls! Blessings... TJ
What I have started to try, is put my banty with my chick, since they get along, and seperate the alpha, my EE, I am going to do this for a week, then integrate the EE in, since she is the new-comer, she can't peck anyone, since she'll temporairly be at the bottom of the pecking order, at least, that's my plan.
I agree with the others that you should keep them separate but right next to each other; separated by a wall of chicken wire. One thing you have to consider before putting them together is the feed. Your babies shouldn't eat the laying feed. The high calcium levels are not good for them until they are ready to start laying, and the hens need the lower protein and the calcium to keep laying. There really is no way to keep them out of each others feed if they are in the same space (at least I haven't been able to find one!). You should probably consider keeping them separate until 20 weeks or so.
I appreciate all the suggestions. I think I will try and put up some fencing and separate them during the day then put the little girls back in the brooder at night. I was concerned about the food issue too. I guess I was just wanting to be lazy about the whole thing. Thank you again!
I integrated two 9 weekers with my adult hens. I gave them a few days separated by chicken wire, and then when I removed it I set in the pen with a stick (piece of pvc) and when one of the hens started hassling the new pullet, I used the stick to shove the aggressor away. They actually seemed to get over wanting to harass the new pullets that way. I think have oodles and oodles of chicken treats spread around the run helps too.