Very first egg! Now what?

[MsVexx]

Hey guys,

So I got my very first egg!! Now I'm brimming with new questions. Here's what I've got:

-23 weeks: 6 Silver Laced Wyandottes (1 or 2 laying)
-18 weeks: 1 Rhoad Island Red hen, 1 Americana hen, 1 Americana roo
-7-8 weeks: 2 Brahma hens, 1 Black Jersey Giant hen, 1 Partridge Cochin Hen, 1 Black Sumatra roo

the 23 and 18-week chickens are all together in one coop, they are all on chick starter/grower feed and they have acreage to free range on. Should I keep them at that or switch to another type of feed, or feed them separately?

For the 7-8 week old baby peeps, I've had them in their own coop for about a week, on the chick starter/grower. I just picked up a 40" tall playpen with added chicken wire on the top so I can safely introduce them to the rest of the flock. Any insight on this?

 

[MsVexx]

Doesn't look like the hyperlink worked so here is a pic of the pen

 

[aart]

the 23 and 18-week chickens are all together in one coop, they are all on chick starter/grower feed and they have acreage to free range on. Should I keep them at that or switch to another type of feed, or feed them separately?

You can leave them on that, or get something like and 'all flock' or 'flock raiser' type feed, just provide oyster shell in a separate container for the laying birds.

Here's some tips on.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock