merging pullets with adult hens

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[FortCluck]

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. The closer in size to the adult hens the less the chance of significant injury.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I would give some advice, but the others have beat me to it!
What breeds do you have? Any pics?

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! You have gotten a lot of good advice, so you don't need mine.

 

[Mudstreethens]

View attachment 1936998

View attachment 1936999 I don't know how old your pullets are, but you can put them out at any age with the right setup. I brood in the coop so both groups can see each other all day for a few weeks, and a gradual release out to the adult flock. My pullets are usually fully integrated by 5 weeks. But if yours are already older and both groups haven't met yet, it may take another couple weeks of See But Don’t Touch to peacefully merge them together. The bigger that new arrivals are, the more of a threat they become to the older birds and more conflict can arise. Be sure to have multiple food and water stations, and lots of additional perches, obstacles as hiding spots and activities (hanging treats or a bale of hay to scratch through) for distractions. Free range time together is also a good introduction.

If your pullets are still small, these articles explain how to do early integration:
Integrating at 4 weeks old
Coop Brooder and Integration
Short on Time?

Best wishes with your flock!

thank you for your response. they are in a coop next to my adult flock. pullets are 2.5 months old, and have been see no touch with my hens for over 2 weeks

 

[feathermaid]

thank you for your response. they are in a coop next to my adult flock. pullets are 2.5 months old, and have been see no touch with my hens for over 2 weeks

Your chicks are at a tricky age right now... a little big for safety portals and a little small to defend themselves. You can try releasing them in a large yard together to see how everyone reacts first. Oftentimes they do fine out in the open, but trouble can arise in smaller confined spaces. You could try experimenting to build a portal doorway that chicks can fit through but the adults can't so your young ones still have a safe spot to hide if needed. Make sure to put out those extra feeders (spaced far apart) and obstacles. The links I left earlier have some other ideas.

Sometimes integrating at 2-3 months works, sometimes it doesn't. Lots of space is the key factor, you might just have to play it by ear. Good luck!