Putting your Pullets in with adult females When?

[jtotherow]

I have 24 reds that were born 3/5/08. They are almost the size of my adults and I was wondering when to put them together. My brother said I have to wait until they start laying. My feed guide said 2 week in July. Who is Right?

 

[jtotherow]

When do you move the younger birds in with the adults?

 

[Katy]

I put mine in with the older hens when they're about the same size.

 

[jtotherow]

Do they have to be laying?

 

[Katy]

I don't wait until they're laying. I feed mine Flock Raiser since pullets that aren't laying shouldn't have the amount of calcium that's in layer food. I keep oyster shell out for the ones who are laying to eat as they need it.

 

[HorseFeathers]

You might want to put the pullets in a wired-off section of the coop/run for a few weeks before you completely integrate them. Katy (btw, love your new avatar) has a good idea, wait until they're the same size, but if you do the wired-off thing you could probably do it sooner. Good luck with your birds!

 

[ruby]

I've already put my young girls in with the big girls. They are slightly smaller than the older girls, but a pecking order must be established. I help a little but in the long run it's best to do it now. Do you have a rooster? That would worry me, I don't have any

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Thanks! You're the first one to notice that I finally changed it...or at least the first to say anything.

I move mine to an adjoining pen for a couple of weeks so they can see each other before I put them together. There's always a lot of pecking order stuff that goes on anyway tho.

 

[Angerbat]

I had chicks 5 roosters and 5 pullets that were born a few weeks before easter and I put them with my other chickens, 6 hens and 1 big rooster as soon as they had their feathers and could keep themselves warm. They have been together for over a month. I didn't have any problems.

 

[jtotherow]

I have all girls and ladys. They are located side by side and go to the wire and seem to be communicating. Never aggreassive. I just felt like they would be better off with them than in the temporary coop.

The younger ones are starting to pushing the lower weight hen back from the food. i have two feeders because of this. and two water sources.