Time to integrate!!

[JeninMN]

Our new Buff Orps will be 17 weeks old this coming Sunday...looking for advice as to how best to integrate them in with our 1 year old Buff Orps!

We have had them in the same coop for quite a while now...well over a month maybe closer to 2 months. We have just had them separated by chicken wire so they are all used to seeing eachother but I do worry about the size difference...not a lot of size difference but they are a little smaller than the ones that turned a year old this last April.

I was thinking of letting them out with the older ones when they are free ranging, is this a good idea? and if it goes well then put them all together back in the coop that night?

or do we wait until they are roosting one night and then put the new ones in with them?

Do I need to wait until they are 18 weeks old or can I go ahead any night after they turn 17 weeks old this coming Sunday? Due to the difference in feed....right now the little ones are still on medicated feed.

Thanks, look forward to hearing from those of you with experience with this

Jen

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Here's the link to the BYC Learning Center page on integrating different groups of chickens. I hope it helps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[newchickmom]

For about 3 wks now, I have been letting the younger girls out for free-ranging, with the big girls. They will be 18 wks soon and ready to move to the grown-up coop. There was a little pecking at first, but it has settled down now. The big girls sre still letting the younger ones know who gets to eat first though.