- May 18, 2009
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I've read all of the helpful posts on integrating younger chicks into the flock, but I'm not sure exactly what would be the best way in my circumstance.
Here is the current situation. I have four separate flocks.
Flock 1 - 20 14 week old birds, of which 12 are cockerels in the main coop.
Flock 2 - 23 10 week old birds, of which about 13 are pullets in a smaller grow out pen.
Flock 3 - 12 6 week old BO and BA chicks and 1 Rio Grande turkey in a brooder in my shop.
Flock 4 - 6 3 week old bantams in a smaller brooder in my shop.
The original goal was to get rid of most of the cockerels in the first flock and integrate the pullets from the second flock.
The problem is that the third flock is quickly outgowing their brooder box and it's going to be at least a couple of week before I can build the second coop.
Should I remove the excess cockerels from Flock 1 and introduce the pullets from Flock 2 at the same time? And if so, will it be safe to add the older cockerels from Flock 1 into the grow out pen with the cockerels from Flock 2?
This is a problem I didn't foresee when I was collecting fuzzy butts every four weeks.
I figure the younger hens will fare better by introducing them as a group, but I fear for the younger cockerels if I combine all the excess cockerels in the grow out pen.
Most of the excess cockerels will end up going to freezer camp, but not for at least a few weeks (our grandson is visiting and we don't want to trauamatize him). I'm not sure I want anyone to get hurt in the meantime.
I'd appreciate any suggestions (or good homes for a bunch of beautiful EE and BR cockerels.
Denise
Here is the current situation. I have four separate flocks.
Flock 1 - 20 14 week old birds, of which 12 are cockerels in the main coop.
Flock 2 - 23 10 week old birds, of which about 13 are pullets in a smaller grow out pen.
Flock 3 - 12 6 week old BO and BA chicks and 1 Rio Grande turkey in a brooder in my shop.
Flock 4 - 6 3 week old bantams in a smaller brooder in my shop.
The original goal was to get rid of most of the cockerels in the first flock and integrate the pullets from the second flock.
The problem is that the third flock is quickly outgowing their brooder box and it's going to be at least a couple of week before I can build the second coop.
Should I remove the excess cockerels from Flock 1 and introduce the pullets from Flock 2 at the same time? And if so, will it be safe to add the older cockerels from Flock 1 into the grow out pen with the cockerels from Flock 2?
This is a problem I didn't foresee when I was collecting fuzzy butts every four weeks.
I figure the younger hens will fare better by introducing them as a group, but I fear for the younger cockerels if I combine all the excess cockerels in the grow out pen.
Most of the excess cockerels will end up going to freezer camp, but not for at least a few weeks (our grandson is visiting and we don't want to trauamatize him). I'm not sure I want anyone to get hurt in the meantime.
I'd appreciate any suggestions (or good homes for a bunch of beautiful EE and BR cockerels.
Denise
