Mixing 15 week olds with 10 week olds?? Can it be done??

[newchickens2009]

I have 24, 15 week old mixed breed hens and roos in a 14 x 8 coop, (6 roos I think?). I also have 10 Red Star hens that I need to move to a bigger coop since they have outgrown their small one. Can I put them in with the 15 week old birds , or will the older ones peck, bully them to much or even try and kill them?

(The mixed breeds are Dominique Roo x with EE, Dominiques and some mutts that were given to me by a friend to hatch.)

 

[newchickens2009]

Anyone?

 

[chics in the sun]

That is still a pretty big size difference. I would put them where they can see eachother for a week (but can't hurt eachother), then see if they can get along all together.

 

[Morgan7782]

I will be putting four 9 week olds out tomorrow with two 13/14 week olds. They will be seperated by run fencing for a week or so but after that I will introduce them while free ranging. I would let the groups see each other and stuff for a few days and then introduce them. I will also update this after tomorrow to let you know how MY introductions went.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I agree with chics and morgan about separating them with visibility for a little while.

I also think that the size of your run/yard has a lot to do with it. If the young ones have a lot of places to hide or a large area to roam, so that they can get out of site of the big guys, they will more quickly learn to live with each other.

I have a lot of success with integrating different ages because they free range.

 

[newchickens2009]

Problem is right now I have only 2 coops and they are 10' or more apart and are permently in there place so I can't put them close together for a few days. I know that this is the proper way but I am just not able to do it right now??

Maybe I will try and free range together for a few days and see if they get along. Only problem with that is if they start to fight I have no way of seperating them?

 

[PunkinPeep]

Set up some place for the little ones to hide. Most likely though, in my experience, you won't have that much problem if you free range.

 

[newchickens2009]

Thanks one and all for the info and help. I will try and free range for a few hrs everyday over the next week or so and see what happens.
Take care and God bless!