living together

[lrayle]

I have 4 older hens and 4 four month and 5 month old hens. They all roam the yard together every day but its like they are together but separate. The babies are 2 and 2 and the 4 older ones hang together. Its like 3 different sets of chickens. I want them to all go into the same coop. How can I do this? Should I take away the babies house they are in or will they in my themselves cause they are out growing the little house.

 

[Judy]

They might choose to stay in their own groups for months or even years. If you remove one coop, you may find they don't want to go in the other one. You can try bribing them in, or just placing them in for several nights and hope they learn.

 

[centrarchid]

They will all form a single group by fall when all are mature. If group was larger, the protracted separation more likely but you would also see member exchanges particularly in fall.