introducing 10-week old chickens

[rccola7]

I have a flock of four grown hens, and a new flock of eleven various-sized chickens who are now about 10 weeks old. They have been raised in a coop-within-the-coop...with the older hens, but separated by fencing. My question is, some of my chickens have gotten quite large, and at 10 weeks are already about 2/3 the size of my grown hens. Is it too early to integrate my larger chicks with the grown ups? It's starting to get a little crowded in their small coop. The ones I want to integrate are my three Rhode Island Reds and two Polish. Also, I know one of the Polish is definitely a rooster, and suspect that two of the Reds are roosters as well...I don't know if that figures in to the equation.

 

[Den in Penn]

I would introduce them as the whole group. If you have a large run or free range you can let them out to mingle during the day now, keeping them in their coop at night for a while more. That is the age I let mine start to share the range with the flock they are joining.

 

[galefrances]

I would go ahead and integrate them. But make sure y.ou have plenty of space for them. Put extra feeders and water out in case the older hens try to keep the younger ones away. Also, make sure there are enough places for the young ones to hide, like a milk crate turned on its side in a corner. This way they have somewhere to go to protect themselves. Keep an eye out, but don't interfere with the establishment of the pecking order unless it gets bloody, otherwise they'll just start all over again. The pecking order should be established in about a week.

My pullets are 8 weeks and I've just integrated them with my hens. It should be fine.

Addendum: I can't speak to roosters as I don't have any ( that I know of yet) , but yes it does factor in to the equation, especially when there is more than one.

 

[rccola7]

I've got some Banties who are very small so I am hesitating to send them out right away.. I've only ever had just the four hens so I have no experience how different breeds interact. One thing, my older hens' wings are clipped so the young ones can flutter away from them if they need to. Thoughts?

 

[Den in Penn]

I have had a banty with others when I put them in with the flock and it did well. Small size doesn't mean it has no abilities. With the older ones wings clipped and the banties general flightlyness they should be alright. Hiding places and things to break the line of sight are definitely pluses.

 

[galefrances]

Mixed breeds are fine. Your polish hens might end up at the bottom of the pecking order as they tend to get picked on in a mixed flock. It has to do with their poor sight with their feathers in their eyes, but nothing to worry about. I do find that the pullets tend to segregate themselves from the adults and in most cases will remain separate even as adults. They have a sort of kinship with each other. That being said, I've noticed in my adult hens, although they stick together as a group, like breeds tend to stick together as well. But all in all they will all eventually get along once the pecking order is established. You also will see different personalities within a breed as they are all individuals. My barred rock is very docile, easy going so she took to the pullets right away. My RIR's are a bit standoffish and one is a bit of a bully, she chases the pullets away, and my Sicilians usually are indifferent, they were the first to mingle with the pullets. So, it's a very interesting process.