Starting a flock with multi aged chickens......

[j and bs hens]

Hi,

We have 4 five week old chicks, and we are thinking of getting a couple of ready to lays. Our chicks are currently in our laundry room, and it's still too cool to get them into the coop. If we were to get the ready to lays, they'd be going into the coop. We will be moving our laundry room group out once they are full feathered, and it's warm enough.

Is there a tried and true way of mixing the two groups and keeping the peace? Should we wait until the LR group is in the coop?? Or does it matter at all???

Thanks!

 

[bobbi-j]

I think it would be best to wait until your current ones are close to adult size.

 

[bloonskiller911]

i mixed 6 week old pullets with laying hens and had no problems. they integrated great, we have a large run though.

 

[chickenluv]

I've mixed 6-8week old babies in with my flock, and they've done just fine. But when I first introduce the babies to the big coop, I keep them in cages the first night/day, so the girls can meet them, but not peck. My coop is pretty good sized, so they have enough space to say out of the older hens way. Just keep an eye on them for the first few days, to make sure none of the girls decide to pick on any of the babies.