Introducing adult hen to flock of young pullets

[RCRChx]

I currently have a small flock of four 12 week old pullets and two 12 week old roosters. I am considering purchasing 2 or 3 adult ISA brown laying hens to add to the flock as the roosters were originally planned to be pullets, but I accidentally bought straight run!
How do I go about integrating adult hens to a young flock? Is it the same process as the usual introduction of younger chickens into adult flocks? It's an odd situation! Any help would be appreciated!!!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hmmmm....you've created several different dynamics here...young pullets with older hens, and young roosters.

Typically the older hens would haze the younger pullets, and roosters, even as the newbies on the block. But you are only getting a couple and you have a group of pullets. If everyone has plenty of access to food, water, and a hidey hole if hazing gets a bit intense, it probably will work out just fine.

The concern is the roosters. When they hit puberty, with raging hormones, they tend to bully their sibling girls. Now, the older hens will probably push back, which can discourage nasty antics in young roos. I have great success introducing my broody hatch roos into the flock as the matrons keep them in check. No nonsense allowed here.

So, if you don't have a super aggressive breed of adult bird (I'd stay away from hatchery RIR/Red birds and hatchery Buff Orps), but something like a Barred Rock or Red Sex Link (ISA Browns) or Black Sex Link, you'll likely have a good temperament in your older two hens that will, with proper isolation time, integrate with the younger pullets and can help keep the snarky roos in line when they get hormonal.

If any rooster gets really aggressive with hens, and definitely with people, they taste especially good with sage and thyme. It's the only "cure."

So...I think it can be done, with ages and numbers you described, provided you have plenty of space. Good luck.

LofMc