Pixelsaurus
Songster
- Apr 24, 2020
- 43
- 55
- 109
[posted this in "managing flock" but I think my question is more relevant to "chicken behaviors"]
There seems to be a lot on introducing new pullets to an existing flock, but haven't seen much advice the other way. I have raised 6 Isa Browns since 1wk old. Didn't start with older, egg laying aged chickens because we didn't have the coop and run complete. Now that they have been in the coop for a few weeks.
Perhaps I am getting a bit ahead of myself, but wanted to start getting eggs before August. Plus, I want to have blue and green egg layers. I found two hens on Craigslist - an Ameracauana and an Opal Legbar, both about 18 months old. I have them separated but they can see each other.
Some say to quarantine them apart for 30 days, but I just don't have the space. Right now the young flock goes out in the yard during the day and I let the older girls stay in the coop and run. Will the older girls resent being left in the run?
In the coop, I have the older girls in a tall caged off area (about 5 ft tall) and a roost bar running across about about 3.5 ft. The main roost for the young flock is at about 4.5 feet (and they can see each other). Will this cause any issues when I introduce them - e.g., am I messing with their ability to establish pecking order?
Here is a photo of the area we set up for the older girls.
When I introduce them -in another week or so - should I let them meet outside in the yard (free-ranging)? the person I got them from suggested I just put them up on the roost at night with the others when they are asleep. This seems a little strange to me. But I am SO totally new to this.
I woke up this morning determined to return the hens to the person I got them from. Am I just stressing over nothing? Any advice?
Ginger
There seems to be a lot on introducing new pullets to an existing flock, but haven't seen much advice the other way. I have raised 6 Isa Browns since 1wk old. Didn't start with older, egg laying aged chickens because we didn't have the coop and run complete. Now that they have been in the coop for a few weeks.
Perhaps I am getting a bit ahead of myself, but wanted to start getting eggs before August. Plus, I want to have blue and green egg layers. I found two hens on Craigslist - an Ameracauana and an Opal Legbar, both about 18 months old. I have them separated but they can see each other.
Some say to quarantine them apart for 30 days, but I just don't have the space. Right now the young flock goes out in the yard during the day and I let the older girls stay in the coop and run. Will the older girls resent being left in the run?
In the coop, I have the older girls in a tall caged off area (about 5 ft tall) and a roost bar running across about about 3.5 ft. The main roost for the young flock is at about 4.5 feet (and they can see each other). Will this cause any issues when I introduce them - e.g., am I messing with their ability to establish pecking order?
Here is a photo of the area we set up for the older girls.
When I introduce them -in another week or so - should I let them meet outside in the yard (free-ranging)? the person I got them from suggested I just put them up on the roost at night with the others when they are asleep. This seems a little strange to me. But I am SO totally new to this.
I woke up this morning determined to return the hens to the person I got them from. Am I just stressing over nothing? Any advice?
Ginger
