Letting the new girls out with the older girls?

[Domd28]

We have 9 layers and 10 chicks, the chicks are 4 weeks old. A few questions for this knowledgeable group.

1. When is a good time to introduce the new to the old?

We let the older girls out in the late afternoon to free range, they know enough to go back in when the sun goes down.

2. Should I just let the chicks run with the older in the afternoon/evenings?

3. Will the learn to go in at night from the older girls?

When we got the older group Feb 2013 we kept them in the run for a few weeks before allowing them to run free, they knew when to head home. Mixing the 2 groups together worries me, I don't want to punish the older by not letting them out but on the other hand I need to chicks to learn where they need to be. Any suggestions on how to approach this dilemma?

 

[foreverlearning]

Put the chicks in a day pen in the yard and let the older ones free range. They need to be able to see each other and talk to each other to prevent problems. After a week of this you can add the young ones (as long as they are fully feathered) to the coop with the older ones. It is best to add them at night. If you have any problems you can put something in the coop that only the chicks can get into if they need somewhere to run. Hope you integration is seamless!

 

[johnnyj216]

So is it difficult to mixe different ages of flocks? I have 4 5 month old Barred Rocks and the wife surprised me today with three 1 week old Buff Orphingtons.

 

[foreverlearning]

Sometimes it is, it depends on the flock. My flock is peaceful and my head hen likes to foster (really rare) so no one in the flock dares to attack something my head hen has taken under her wing. There are normal figuring out of pecking order (chase from treats and a few chest bumps) but that is nothing to worry about. Some people have flocks that are so aggressive that their laying hens will bully or even peck to death a non laying pullet. You would see aggression already in the flock before adding new members if your flock is that bad. If you integrate like I posted above it gives you the best possible chance of not having issues.

 

[Domd28]

Thanks everyone. I put them in the coop last night, this morning they seem to be doing well. The little ones seem to be enjoying their new found freedom. The older are a little skittish off the energy of the young.

 

[johnnyj216]

What do most people do with feed when integrating a new 10 week old flock to a 7 month old flock? My young ones are on medicated chick starter and the older girls are on layer feed. I've read a lot that the chicks need to be on the chick started till at least 16 weeks but some say 8 weeks. What is the best approach?

 

[angelika]

What do most people do with feed when integrating a new 10 week old flock to a 7 month old flock? My young ones are on medicated chick starter and the older girls are on layer feed. I've read a lot that the chicks need to be on the chick started till at least 16 weeks but some say 8 weeks. What is the best approach?

I have 12 week old pullets and laying hens, the feed store told me it was fine to feed the pullets the layer feed so I've been doing that for a week now. We have no issues. Some people feed the grower feed to both the pullets and laying hens then add oyster shells to increase the calcium for the layers.

 

[foreverlearning]

What do most people do with feed when integrating a new 10 week old flock to a 7 month old flock? My young ones are on medicated chick starter and the older girls are on layer feed. I've read a lot that the chicks need to be on the chick started till at least 16 weeks but some say 8 weeks. What is the best approach?

The reason they say that is because the calcium is supposed to store in the kidneys and lead to a shorter overall life span if given too young. I keep my little ones in the brooder and grow out pens on unmedicated chick feed. Then when they free range and go into the main coop they eat layer just like the rest of my flock. The time inside and in the grow out pen differs with each batch I raise. My fancy breeds seem to require more heat longer so they stay in the brooder until they are fully feathered whereas my barnyard mixes usually get off of heat at 2 weeks old (with exceptions for bad or extremely cold weather) and go into the grow out pen. They stay in the grow out pen until they are 8 weeks old or for the fancy breeds for 2 weeks after they go in there then it's off to the main coop and on layer feed. I raise some for meat (regular, not broilers) along side of my layers so I can see if there is a problem with their feed on the organs and fat content with yearly butchering. I have never had a problem with length of life, organs, or eggs with any of my layers.