Merging Two Flocks to One Coop

[Lynzi777]

I have a very small flock of 6 silkies (2 hens, 3 chicks and 1 roo) and 2 orpington hens. The breeds were separated a while back when I found out I had an orpington roo and really should be kept with the silkies. I rehomed him and will be soon rehoming 2 silkie chicks and a hen leaving the 3 silkies and 2 orpingtons in separate coops still. I would really like to merge the two and have them all live together under one roof so I can free up one of the coops and use it for my three ducklings I will be getting in two weeks. What is the best way to go about this? Is it even a good idea? Would you move the silkies to the orpingtons or the orpingtons to silkies? They all free range together during the day but they tend to keep their distance from each other on our acre lot. The orpingtons range all over the yard while the silkies usually tend to stay on their "side" of the yard and pretty close to their coop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Feathers n Fur]

I was going to offer some feedback as to what I plan to do to mix my two flocks of 7 girls each but your situation is different than mine. Iplan to bring the younger ones into the existing coop and partition the space with chicken wire for about 2-3 weeks so the two flocks can see each other and be around each other but not get to each other until the younger ones have grown a bit more then I plan to take down the partition and let them meet. I will add plenty of tree branches to the run along with"hiding" places for them to take cover during the re-ordering in the pecking order which I've hear takes anywhere from a few days to a week.

Since yours are already used to seeing each other in the yard you may have an easier go of it. Not sure which coop you should use. whichever one is bigger I suppose. Sorry I wasn't much help.

 

[Den in Penn]

I would move the chickens to the larger of the two coops, unless the larger one would be better for the ducks. Since they do know each other integrating them should be easier, however the ones with the home court advantage may strongly object. Watch for that. I don't know if you have runs, but the ones moved will want to go home. If you don't and the coop isn't large, make a temporary run to keep them penned in the new coop. Should take a week or so for that.

 

[Lynzi777]

Thanks! Yes both coops have runs. I will try that thanks!

Funny, today both flocks were out and the orpingtons made their way to the Silkie coop and decided to stop in for some water. Well I closed the door on them to keep them in that one for a while and let the silkies see them inside of their coop. After a while I decided to place one of the hens and a chick inside with them. They didn't seem to mind too much and the Orps weren't too mean to them but I'm wondering if it were the other way around how it would go. The Orps have the bigger coop but that one would be ideal for the ducks. We'll see what happens.....