Older chickens with younger chicks?

[georgiapumpkin]

Hey,
I've got ( 16 ) 5 week old chicks and I was wondering if I could add maybe 4 older laying hens that are about a year old with them. I have a huge coop and the outdoor yard is 30'x40'
Someone is selling there's and before I commit to it I just wanted to see if it would be a problem.
Thanks

 

[Mrs. K]

Well yes and no. If you just throw them together, yes, they will attack your chicks. If you give your chicks a lot of hideouts, safety places where they can escape with out the bigger birds following, it will work quite well.

Create a pen in the run with a shelter. Put your chicks in that, at dark, they should go into the shelter. I use a dog crate. Close the door, place in the coop. Next morning repeat. Add the older hens to the area. Outs side of the safety zone, have low pallets - just a couple of inches off the ground. Have a couple of them. Lean one or two up against a wall.

Wait 2-3 days. Now go lift the fencing of the safety zone, up off the ground just a couple of inches. This will allow the chicks to go out and retreat on their terms. Within days, you should see the chicks mingling amongst the older hens. When you do, you can take the fencing down.

Mrs K

 

[georgiapumpkin]

Well yes and no. If you just throw them together, yes, they will attack your chicks. If you give your chicks a lot of hideouts, safety places where they can escape with out the bigger birds following, it will work quite well.

Create a pen in the run with a shelter. Put your chicks in that, at dark, they should go into the shelter. I use a dog crate. Close the door, place in the coop. Next morning repeat. Add the older hens to the area. Outs side of the safety zone, have low pallets - just a couple of inches off the ground. Have a couple of them. Lean one or two up against a wall.

Wait 2-3 days. Now go lift the fencing of the safety zone, up off the ground just a couple of inches. This will allow the chicks to go out and retreat on their terms. Within days, you should see the chicks mingling amongst the older hens. When you do, you can take the fencing down.

Mrs K

Thanks,
That's what I thought I would have to do. Now just have to figure out how to accommodate them separately if I do decide to get them.

 

[aart]

Keep in mind that bringing in older birds to satisfy your want of 'eggs now' maybe also bring in pests and disease that you will deal with maybe forever.
How old are these birds and why do they want to sell them?
Buyer beware.

 

[georgiapumpkin]

Keep in mind that bringing in older birds to satisfy your want of 'eggs now' maybe also bring in pests and disease that you will deal with maybe forever.
How old are these birds and why do they want to sell them?
Buyer beware.

Yea, I've changed my mind about getting them. I started thinking the same thing about disease and such. I already have 16 chicks. When they do start laying on a good day I'll have a dozen eggs maybe.
Thanks for the advice.