Need Advice. Joining 10 week olds with Older birds.

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

What is the best way to join your younger birds with the older birds. These free range and I don't want the roosters chasing them off and them getting lost and not being able to catch them. Could I let the pullets out and keep the young cockerels in the pen till they are big enough to defend themselves from the big roos? Also I'm wanting them to learn their new coop and roosts.

 

[stephhassler]

I kept mine in the coop from about 4 weeks old. They were inside a secure pen so the older girls could see them, but not harm them. They go out to the chicken tractor during the day. The others free range. So even outside they can see the new ones but can't harm them. After about 2 weeks of this I let them all be together. There was some initial pecking until order was learned, but nothing serious and all seem to get along fairly well now.

I'm starting a second set of young ones who are now about 4 weeks. I just moved them to the coop last night. Again, in a secure pen so the older ones can see them but not harm them. During the day they go out to the tractor. At night the new ones move back to the secure pen inside the coop. I think this also gets them used to going into the coop at night with everyone else.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

These have been in a tractor since 4 weeks too....they can walk by and see them in there...but anytime one gets out....he or she is chased all over by the others till she's caught.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

Quote:
And I have 50 of them....so it's hard to move them all back and forth....

 

[stephhassler]

Yes - I agree 50 is a lot to move. I started out with 53, but the coons were kind enough to whittle that number down to 38. Next batch was 12 and 2 died from unknown causes. It is alot easier to move 10 in and out - as opposed to the 38. My son loves chickens and he helps me every day, so putting them in and out is too time consuming. Plus, I stay at home most days, I don't have to be at work early and can take my time in the morning. Maybe someone else has some better ideas?

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Here is the BYC Learning Center page on integrating flocks.
Hope it helps:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock