Is it time to free range my pullets?

[Ruler of the Roost]

It’s funny, cause since I’ve released the pullets into the rest of the flock no one seems to be interested in establishing a new pecking order. The gunieas and turkey are chilling together, the cinnamon queens are palling around, nuggy and chicky and chilling over in a corner and the og chickens are chilling in the soon-to-be-coop where the pullets were first placed outside. Wondering how this is going to affect the flock dynamics when I start free ranging them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Adding young chicks shouldn't really affect the pecking order. It's assumed the young ones are on the bottom. So no one need to establish it.

It can cause problems when space is tight, but with enough space you don't really see any problems in my experiences.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

So the flock has been integrated in the run for two full days and the pullets have been in the run a total of two weeks prior to that. Is it time to start free ranging them? Or should I keep them all cooped up for another couple of days?

 

[aart]

How old, in weeks, are the new chicks?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So the flock has been integrated in the run for two full days and the pullets have been in the run a total of two weeks prior to that. Is it time to start free ranging them? Or should I keep them all cooped up for another couple of days?

It may take them awhile to got out very far. I would just lock them up separately at night for a while.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

How old, in weeks, are the new chicks?

It varies. I’d say the oldest were purchased in mid march. The rest 2-3 weeks later. The oldest ones are larger than my smallest adult.

 

[aart]

It varies. I’d say the oldest were purchased in mid march. The rest 2-3 weeks later. The oldest ones are larger than my smallest adult.

Are the younger birds used to ranging?
Are the new birds roosting in the coop at night?
I'd not let them out until they are roosting with no problems,
then let them all out close (1-2 hours) before roost time and observe as they all come back to the coop to roost.

 

[ChickenRaunchy]

It’s funny, cause since I’ve released the pullets into the rest of the flock no one seems to be interested in establishing a new pecking order. The gunieas and turkey are chilling together, the cinnamon queens are palling around, nuggy and chicky and chilling over in a corner and the og chickens are chilling in the soon-to-be-coop where the pullets were first placed outside. Wondering how this is going to affect the flock dynamics when I start free ranging them.

I'm pretty new to being a chicken mom, but I don't have the segregation issue you described. I have a small, diverse flock -- 2 Guineas, 1 Turkey, 6 Amber Link Pullets and 5 Barred Rock pullets. All the above are female. They were all born on the same day, and I got them all together. They grew up in the same brooder and moved to the coop together. They eat the same food. I later added a mature rooster. They all free range together and whereas I expected the rooster to take charge, the Turkey (Tina) was already the Big Mama of the flock and no one even takes the rooster seriously. They all hang together and do what Tina tells them. I sometimes think that none of them have a clue that they are not all from the same mom/dad. I do see that in my group, the Guinea's tend to stay closer to Tina than the pullets do. And Tina is the only one that can tell them to shut up! If I had to do it over again, I would do it exactly the same. I love it that they all stick together, and I do let them free range. We have a pretty big property that is bounded by forest, but not fenced. I count on Tina to be the shepherd. So far, no casualties.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

I'm pretty new to being a chicken mom, but I don't have the segregation issue you described. I have a small, diverse flock -- 2 Guineas, 1 Turkey, 6 Amber Link Pullets and 5 Barred Rock pullets. All the above are female. They were all born on the same day, and I got them all together. They grew up in the same brooder and moved to the coop together. They eat the same food. I later added a mature rooster. They all free range together and whereas I expected the rooster to take charge, the Turkey (Tina) was already the Big Mama of the flock and no one even takes the rooster seriously. They all hang together and do what Tina tells them. I sometimes think that none of them have a clue that they are not all from the same mom/dad. I do see that in my group, the Guinea's tend to stay closer to Tina than the pullets do. And Tina is the only one that can tell them to shut up! If I had to do it over again, I would do it exactly the same. I love it that they all stick together, and I do let them free range. We have a pretty big property that is bounded by forest, but not fenced. I count on Tina to be the shepherd. So far, no casualties.

I think the biggest difference is I “inherited” an established flock. I also bought my newer birds 2-4 at a time 1-2 weeks apart. while I raised them together it was not from the same point in time. I’m glad it’s working out for you. Mine have since figured everything out as they matured.