Introducing older hens (18mo) to existing flock of juveniles (8wk)

[Pixelsaurus]

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., the young girls being on a higher roost?

Am I just stressing over nothing? Any advice?

Ginger

 

[Pork Pie]

Since you let your birds range the yard, I’d just ensure there’s a couple of feeding stations and let them mingle - ditto in the coop. Keep an eye on things, but I never had issues.

 

[Pixelsaurus]

Thanks for the quick reply. Right now we have feeders on both sides of the run fence - they eat and "see" each other.

I was thinking we can keep this up for about a week or two. But with the plan of using the coop run and the yard as a way to keep them separated - we have to be home and keeping an eye on them constantly. So the sooner I can get them to mingle together the better. Any issues about introducing them after just a week of separation?

Ginger

 

[aart]

There seems to be a lot on introducing new pullets to an existing flock, but haven't seen much advice the other way.

Works the same way...space, resources, territoriality.

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?

Good to let the newbies inspect the coop and run without being harassed by the existing flock.

Do the newbies sleep in that caged off area?
Pics of your coop and run might help here.

 

[Pixelsaurus]

Here is a photo of the caged off area. The older girls stay there at night. They have even gotten used to their roost. At night, they go in the coop and hop up on the roost in their cage - leaving the other roost alone. We then close up the cage and get the young girls in from the run before shutting the chicken door.

 

[aart]

Here is a photo of the caged off area. The older girls stay there at night. They have even gotten used to their roost. At night, they go in the coop and hop up on the roost in their cage - leaving the other roost alone. We then close up the cage and get the young girls in from the run before shutting the chicken door.

View attachment 2148272

Where is this in relation to the main coop and roosts?

 

[Pixelsaurus]

The coop is about 50 square feet divided in half - cage on one side and roost for existing flock on the other.

We did finally let the girls interact out in the yard and it went well. Even doing well around our little pup who has been around the existing 8week old flock since they were 1 week.