Multiple Flock intros 😬

[Bergiejo]

In advance I'd like to thank you for your advice, ideas, and help!!! Sorry this is a long one

This will be childrens' first official year taking poultry as a 4H project and they are super excited. I'd say we have some experience with chickens (5 plus years), but with the idea of taking chickens to the fair I feel I'm clueless. We hatched the chicks beginning of April and currently have 3 pullets and 3 cockerels. We are in the production category and only need 2 pullets to bring to the fair...

So I'm wondering how to go about introducing the cockerels and the one pullet that doesn't make the cut for fair to my existing flock?

They all have been seen and noticed by the others in my flock for quite sometime now (they have a separate tractor in my pasture where all my other ladies come and go throughout the day) so I'm not just tossing them out there, but would it be better to go in pairs of 2 as I introduce them? I have been trying to think of the best way to do this, but hoping for some help in deciding.

I worry they won't catch on to the routine of the existing flock since we have a separate area for them because of the fair project and because I wanted a place to also quarantine them after the fair in case they come home with something too

Wondering if I send out the cockerels at first and keep the little ladies up until the fair, but worry about leaving the one lady behind and I don't want to introduce her alone because I know that would be setting her up for a traumatic experience. Or do I just introduce 2 cockerels and then keep the 3 ladies and one cockerel up until we decide which ladies make the fair and then introduce the cockerel and other lady while we are at the fair?

Again thank you and sorry to ramble on! I really appreciate my chicken people

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm not sure of your breed but these were all hatched together so all six you speak of lived together already? If so, I'd just try it as 9-10 weeks old is a bit young yet for any cockerel/pullet issues. We do it with silkies, so they're a little behind other breeds, but I still think it should work out okay at their age.

 

[Bergiejo]

I'm not sure of your breed but these were all hatched together so all six you speak of lived together already? If so, I'd just try it as 9-10 weeks old is a bit young yet for any cockerel/pullet issues. We do it with silkies, so they're a little behind other breeds, but I still think it should work out okay at their age.

Thanks for your reply! Yes, we hatched them (RIRs) and they are almost 15 weeks old. I've probably over done the process of keeping them seen yet separated, but I just don't know the best way to introduce them all at different stages because of my kids' fair project with only needing 2 pullets.

With the 3 cockerels I can already see who's the leader and feel he would be okay with being introduced to the flock at this time with another cockerel, but the other 2 have different personalities. One is skittish and and the other seems to be easy going...so not sure who is partner should be. I have a mixed flock of ladies (26 plus 6 younger pullets with a broody hen...close to 10 weeks old). I feel they would be okay to try it this evening...but hoping I don't picked the wrong pair to start this long introducing process. Our fair isn't until August 6th.

Thanks

 

[Debbie292d]

Thanks for your reply! Yes, we hatched them (RIRs) and they are almost 15 weeks old. I've probably over done the process of keeping them seen yet separated, but I just don't know the best way to introduce them all at different stages because of my kids' fair project with only needing 2 pullets.

With the 3 cockerels I can already see who's the leader and feel he would be okay with being introduced to the flock at this time with another cockerel, but the other 2 have different personalities. One is skittish and and the other seems to be easy going...so not sure who is partner should be. I have a mixed flock of ladies (26 plus 6 younger pullets with a broody hen...close to 10 weeks old). I feel they would be okay to try it this evening...but hoping I don't picked the wrong pair to start this long introducing process. Our fair isn't until August 6th.

Thanks

We have an abundance of roosters due to running a breeding program here. We might need some down the road, but only 5 can be in breeding pens at a time. There are about eight more that are free-ranging, but no hens are free-ranging, so there is no competition. They all get along, albeit a spat now and then.
That said, I also know a few folks who've made "bachelor pads" for extra roosters that work well too. When no hens are involved, the roosters are better behaved. If perhaps you could take two of them out of the picture, so to speak, you'd have less to worry about, at least for a month or two.