Because of the kerfluffle we experienced that most of you have read about, we took losing the two as an opportunity to introduce some new blood.
George and T.G. are 6 mos now. I found a hen who looks to be about a year. The seller told me she was 5 mos, and when we saw her, she is the largest 5 mos old bird I have ever seen, so I'm thinking she's older. We also bought a 3 mos old female. The 3 mos old came from the same flock as the year old, and "adopted" her as a mommy. The year old is "Angel", and the 3 mos old is "Ice Cream" (what happens when a 5 year old gets to name an animal...) George and T.G. have bullied them both, but Casa de Pea seems to be big enough for them all, and they're getting it sorted out.
We are picking up "Patches", a 5 year old Silver Pied, and his 5 year old girlfriend, a bronze who has no name as of yet. I've got the 2nd coop set up to house those two initially.
So, the question is, how long do I wait to integrate them all? I'm not interested in keeping everyone separated, but I'm not trying to get anyone killed either. Is there a preferred method to facilitate harmony?
With horses, we group everyone by age, and put them in stalls based on age. That's not really an option here. At some point down the road, everyone will be turned out together, and will roost in the coops.
George and T.G. are 6 mos now. I found a hen who looks to be about a year. The seller told me she was 5 mos, and when we saw her, she is the largest 5 mos old bird I have ever seen, so I'm thinking she's older. We also bought a 3 mos old female. The 3 mos old came from the same flock as the year old, and "adopted" her as a mommy. The year old is "Angel", and the 3 mos old is "Ice Cream" (what happens when a 5 year old gets to name an animal...) George and T.G. have bullied them both, but Casa de Pea seems to be big enough for them all, and they're getting it sorted out.
We are picking up "Patches", a 5 year old Silver Pied, and his 5 year old girlfriend, a bronze who has no name as of yet. I've got the 2nd coop set up to house those two initially.
So, the question is, how long do I wait to integrate them all? I'm not interested in keeping everyone separated, but I'm not trying to get anyone killed either. Is there a preferred method to facilitate harmony?
With horses, we group everyone by age, and put them in stalls based on age. That's not really an option here. At some point down the road, everyone will be turned out together, and will roost in the coops.