Mixing different sizes and ages

[SheriM]

Hi, everyone. We don't have any chickens at the moment, but would like to get some layers and a few buff orpingtons this spring. I'm hoping to get the layers as 19 week old birds, but the orpingtons are only available as day-olds. If I do it this way, do I have to keep them separate till the orpingtons are as big as the layers? Even if I do that, will it be hard to integrate the two flocks? How would I go about putting them together for the first time? The layers will be older and more mature, even if they are the same size. Would it be better to get the layers as day-olds as well and raise them all together? Thanks for listening to a hopelessly newbie question.

 

[grandads]

You would have to keep them separate. I would try and get all around the same age.