Multiple Flocks sharing the same yard? Now- who goes where?!?!?!

[doubleatraining]

Right now I have my main flock and then smaller pens for different grow outs and QT.

I have an opportunity to get another coop super cheap. I have a nice Barnevelder rooster that I would like to keep and start a new flock. Right now I let my flock out of their coop/tractor on the days I'm home. Can I let the other group out too and have them go back to their own coops at night?

 

[ChickiKat]

Sounds like a plan, but they may mix it up some.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It should work. You may have a dispute between the roosters and there may be some territorial/pecking order issues that need to get sorted out between them, but the odds that it will work are pretty good. They are living animals so I can't give you any guarantees, but I'd try it.

You do realize that even if the two flocks stay separate while ranging, you cannot be sure who the Daddy is if they free range at the same time? Some people are surprised by what goes on behind the woodshed.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I have 3 "flocks". One larger coop and run with 10 birds. One chicken tractor with 8 younger birds, and an open air coop with the older 4 birds. I let all of them out every day to free range and they all have their "space" and submit to the whims of head Roo and his harem of 3. At dusk, they all go home to their proper areas. If someone gets confused and tries to roost elsewhere, he is quickly corrected to return to his own place.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have 2 different areas for my animals. 1 flock is in an outside coop in the "human yard" and the rest are inside the chicken yard. They always get it right. They have never had any confusion. The only time there was confusion was when I closed one of the gates too early and one of the hens was not done visiting with her friends and was locked up in the other chicken yard and was not able to get out of the chicken yard into her pen. She kept pacing the fence back and forth and making noises until I heard her. I opened up the gate and she flew back to her own chicken yard.

 

[blkpoodles]

i have different flocks running around in the yard with 2 mature roosters, 1 silkie roo who's 1year old and 1 polish roo who's 6 months old. they get along fine, the 2 roos keep their distance from one another, at night time i have to put everyone in their proper coops. my flocks contains of 9 silkies, 2 EEs 7 polishes. i do have another polish roo who has to stay locked up in a coop with a pen cause he will kill my silkie roo. so if they go together make sure the roos dont try to kill one another

 

[anderson8505]

I also have 2 flocks, one of 11-standards, and one of 4-bantams. The bantam rooster rules them! He sometimes chases away the standard roo. Otherwise, things are fine and they all go to bed in the right coops.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:


I free range my two breeds on alternate days for this reason. There's a certain amount of posturing through the run fence, but otherwise it works.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Would you be referring to a certain turken rooster named Impy and my brahma hens????

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Would you be referring to a certain turken rooster named Impy and my brahma hens????

No, I'm talking about a certain somebody that was surprised by what went on between Impy and those Brahmas. Some of us were not surprised at all and even predicted it.

Gritsar is a great example. She had a Brahma flock run by the dominant rooster, which was also Brahma living in one coop. Her other flock of different breeds was run by a Naked Neck rooster. That flock stayed in a separate coop, but both flocks free ranged together. Over half the Brahma eggs she hatched had a Naked Neck.

Doubleatraining, I'm not exactly sure of your plans, but I thought you might want to know this. But Gritsar is also proof that your plan can work.