timing?

[peartreehens]

Hello! We're planning to process some of our dual-purpose hens soon in an effort to rotate our flock (we have limited room and want to maintain egg production). I have some chicks almost ready to join the flock (14 wks old). The chicks are in a big dog crate in the main run, so everyone can see everyone. What is the best timing to remove the older girls? Before I let the new girls free in the run? At the same time? Let everyone get settled and do it after? I want to minimize stress on them (and me . . . ), so I'd love suggestions!
thanks!

 

[QueenMisha]

I would definitely process the older girls before you add the new ones, and add the new ones ASAP once the older girls are gone. There will be a lot of stress overall, but less aggression directed at the younger ones since the entire pecking order has been shifted.

 

[donrae]

I would also add the newbies asap after removing the older hens. My theory is get all the stress over with so everyone can settle back down to the business of laying eggs.

 

[peartreehens]

so, follow-up question. I've got the babies/chicks/newbies in a dog crate. I plan to open it just enough for them to go in and out for a few days before kicking them out and removing it and leaving them on their own with the Big Girls. Do I open the door ASAP after removing the Freezer Campers? or do I open the door first, and a few days later remove the Freezer Campers and the crate (forcing full integration)?
thanks in advance.

 

[QueenMisha]

so, follow-up question. I've got the babies/chicks/newbies in a dog crate. I plan to open it just enough for them to go in and out for a few days before kicking them out and removing it and leaving them on their own with the Big Girls. Do I open the door ASAP after removing the Freezer Campers? or do I open the door first, and a few days later remove the Freezer Campers and the crate (forcing full integration)?
thanks in advance.

I would open the door a couple hours after removing the freezer camp birds... take the old hens, butcher them, when you're done (if it's not too late in the day) open the door and let the new girls out. It will give the current flock time to realize that other birds are gone, and pecking order will be already shifting when you let the new birds out. Hopefully the older girls will be too busy figuring it out amongst each other to give the pullets too much grief.

 

[donrae]

Agree with Misha. Don't even bother having the littles in with the Campers, it will just cause stresses that will be a moot point as soon as the Campers are processed, so don't even bother.