Just need a quick yes/no...PLEASE!!

[cesco]

Hello Experts!

I have 15 Cornish Rock Cross that are 4 weeks old on the 27th (tommorow). I have one laying hen that I dont know anything about because she showed up in my yard. My wife desided she was keeping her and put her in my coop that I had planed for my meats... So I devided the coop in two. Now the meats that never stop eating need the extra space. Can I just open the coop up and put all of them together? There are eating the same food now.

Thanks for your time!!

cesco

 

[bHen]

Well I would say that the chicken that 'just showed up' is probably a neighbor's chicken.... lol. But since they are already in the same coop and have been 'exposed' to eachother, I would say open it up. The hen might pick on the meaties though. You will just have to watch that she dosen't do too much picking. Also, the meaties need a much higher level of protien in their feed than a laying hen does. I feed my meaties 24% and my layers 18%.

 

[hennypenny99]

You could try it. The broilers are only 4 weeks old so they are fairly young. They say you should introduce birds into your flock in 2's or 3's otherwise the group will pick on the newcomer. At 4 weeks they are still babies and she is probably bigger than them so the might leave her alone.... then again they could gang up on her. Maybe you could just try letting her in with them to see how they do? Have they been able to see each other this whole time? If so they might already be used to each other.

 

[cesco]

Yes they can see each other, there is only mesh wire between them. As far as the hen being a neighbors I dont think that is possable, I live in town and am not supposed to even have chickens. I have a very big yard compaired to everyone else around me. I am feeding her the high protein food that I have for the meats, until they are done and then will buy layer feed for her.

although one of you said she will pick on them and one said they will pick on her??? I will open the pin tomorrow and just watch them close and see what happens.

Thanks all for your time

cesco

 

[donrae]

I bet they'll be fine. My older hens just pecked the cornish crosses to get them away from the food, then ignored them. A peck here and there isn't going to hurt anything.