Introduction of Older Pullets to Younger

[horsedirtocala]

I have read lots of threads on bringing new chicks to an established herd of same or nearly the same age. Say you had a new pullet or two 6 months older that are the newbiies to the flock. Who will beat up on who? I understand you can`t just throw them all together at once. Thoughts appreciated.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you've read enough threads on integration, and goodness knows, there's only a few hundred on here with that subject, you know about all you need to know, really. The rest is going to be experimentation, observation, common sense and trial and error. There is no one, perfect, fail proof method. Different ages, different breeds, different personalities, and so on with endless variables.

Observation, common sense, nice and slow, watch what happens. Be prepared with different pens, runs, waterers, feed troughs, etc. Integration is a funny thing. Sometimes there is a kind of truce, or tense peace treaty without there ever being true integration. Birds that were brooded together always seem to bond in subsets of the flock. That's OK too.

 

[sumi]

There will probably be some fighting and bullying to establish the pecking order. You should keep the new hens under quarantine for a bit, to make sure they are not carrying any disease or lice or something nasty they can give to your flock. If you keep them separate, but within site of your current flock it may help the integration process.

 

[horsedirtocala]

Thank you!!! I have a Jones to get some Marans. This is a hobb,y but I saw on Greenfire Farm website, ahem, $99 and more for unsexed chicks of some really cool breeds. Um, $399 for their Orpingtons! WOW!