OK, guys...Should I combine my two flocks - need input!

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Combine them.

 

[Kelly G]

Alright...so this morning I woke up and mustered up the nerve to move the four big girls (Barred Rocks) in with the 20 week old pullets. I called the four girls into the run of the pullets...and then I "let loose the hounds" and "let the chips fall where they may."

I have to say there were very few squabbles - and what there was, ended up being more noisy than any real aggression.

The four Barred Rocks clearly have the advantage just due to their age (both pullets and hens are all roughly the same size)...even though they are seriously outnumbered by the pullets! This is what I was hoping for...

I was hoping that when the pullets were big enough it would be easier to add the 4 BR hens into the pullets' space...it's just too hard for 4 hens to hassle any one pullet too much when there are nearly 30 pullets....and the pullets would be too imature to dominate one year old hens.

YIPEEEE!!!

Now I hope they will go in and roost with the pullets tonight without me having to chase them down and throw them in there. Do you guys think they'll follow the pullets in to roost tonight?

I didn't have room to add any more roosts...but each chicken has approx. 12" of linear space for roosting...and all the roosts are at the same height. I hope they can sort it out!

When will I get to the point where I don't worry!?

 

[Thomas423]

Sounds like they will be fine.

Maybe you can take them into the coop during the day so they can check it out and feel comfortable.

I was thinking that the 4 older hens would offset 30 younger pullets.

There'll be some squabbling tonight for a roost but only about what you saw today. They'll all settle down and find their spots.

 

[Kelly G]

Quote:
All four used the nest boxes today - and each laid one egg. Do you think that means they feel comfortable? I know the eggs today were "under construction" prior to the move into the new digs, but I was hoping that the fact that they used the boxes in the coop was a good sign...even though I know the stress of the move may cause them to slack off over the next few days.

These four Barred Rocks were in this bigger coop for about 8 weeks in March and April while I used their smaller coop as a nursery for the pullets that are now 20 weeks old....so they've been in here before...I just wasn't sure they would remember. My chickens are not the brightest ones to walk this earth...the seem to have zilch-o on the learning curve

I hope all this makes sense! I did a lot of switching around since February!

 

[Kelly G]

If all this continues to go well....it means I have more room for 6 more chickens!!!!!


YIPEEEEEE!!!

 

[Kelly G]

Oh, by the way...here is my set up. The small playhouse coop is what I started with. Silly me! I thought 6 chickens would be enough!

This is where the BR have spent most of their lives (like I said above, they were briefly relocated to allow the chicks to "grow out" in the playhouse coop).

The bigger coop is just off to the right and has a 50'x50' run. The lady we purchased this property from had 3 pet deer in this enclosure - so the fence is nearly 10' high and does a great job of keeping the chickens in. The coop is predator proof (as much as a coop can be), and the girls have it pretty good in there!


ETA picture

 

[ZooMummzy]

I just combined my flock of year old layers with my 2-3 month old banties. They are doing great together. Always a rough couple days but it all works out in the end usually. I even have silkies in the mix and everyone told me I shouldn't keep them with standard size chickens. I would try it.