Mixing meat birds with egg layers?

[dreithel]

I've got 6 year old egg layers. My meat birds are about 4 weeks old and still in the brooder. I'm planning on putting my meat birds in with my egg layers at the end of next week. Will that be ok? I don't know how I'll be able to separate them. I only have one coop and run.

 

[JanO]

If you can, cage the little ones in a place where they will be seen by the older one hens. In the coop is best, for about 2 or 3 weeks. That way the older hens can see them and get used to them before they mingle with the new members of the flock. When you turn them out, just open the door and let them scope out the coop/run on their own. If you just throw them in with the year old hens it's likely that the older hens will attack and kill the new ones, so they need to be integrated slowly.

 

[dreithel]

Thanks