what age do you put the young hens in with the older ones

[troy4]

he is a barn yard mix

 

[troy4]

He is soooo beautiful what breeds is he mixed with?

he is a brnyard mix my hens so far the barnyard mixes are the only ones sitting

 

[five is my dog]

Um, am I lucky or something? My chicks are 5 1/2 weeks old and they are fine with the older ones, just an occasional you're-too-close peck. I do have lots of space though.

i put them together and they are fine now

 

[troy4]

mines are ok too one is laying i think two are i'm not sure

 

[chrissyr]

well this is my pullet!!!! she is about four months old in my pullets are very big

Nice pullets

I think for me space is critical. Mine have seen each other through the fence for a couple of months now. When they are in the bigger area together they're fine. The young ones will get a bit pecked but they just run to a safe spot. The new ones just need area to get away, climb up or hide until they get used to each other. For instance: If you have 15 hens, add 2 pullets with no space you will have problems. The new ones will probably always be at the bottom of the pecking order, but they just have to be able to get away from their harrassers. Once they've established who's boss things should be better. I would definately watch them for about a week. My neighbor got one of my 3 month roos and put it with his hens only to find they ganged up on him overnight.

 

[marvun22]

I might have one major reason why my 5 1/2 week old chickens, 10 week old chick, 15 week old chicks, adult chicks, 10 week old duck, 13 week old ducks, adult ducks, and 14 week old geese get along. My coop is 39x16. Thats 624 square feet. It might be fine because of my space.

 

[Stephnet]

I have 2 small pullets, 7 older pullets and six 1.5 yr old hens/rooster.......I started putting the 7 older pullets with the original older flock in the coop but kept them seperate with a wire fencing in the coop for 2 months, then I would let them all out to free range together in daytime after 2 months and kept them seperate at night. After 3 months I let them out of the seperate cage and they mingle in the daytime (free ranging) and roost at night all together (although the younger ones roost on the other side of the coop as the older ones). Now with the 2 young chicks that came along 2 months ago, I kept in a cage for 2 months in the coop. I let these very young pullets in the outdoor run during the day, while the others free range and then at night will I let them back in and they just now after 3 months will roost in a corner, although I keep a place in the coop for them to run and hide if an older one decides to pick on them (the older ones are not able to fit thru the small opening that I have for the young ones to run into). So basically introducing the young pullets to the older flock takes time and patience and creative ways. Keeping the 2 flocks seperate by a fence or enclosure where they can still see, smell and talk to each other is a big help and then eventually they can blend in.

 

[suewtsn]

I used dog psychology. I intro'd mine on neutral territory and thru wire for a week. Then altogether outside. No major issues but if one got snotty I interrupted the behaviour - like throwing a stick near her. No fights though. About to intro a second batch so I guess I will see if that was fluke or not.

 

[NanaHess]

Keeping ours separate until they are all old enough for layer feed, another 8-10 weeks. So far they have been divided by fencing for 3 weeks and the 1st attempt to free range together did not go so well this past weekend.

 

[chicken farmer]

he is a brnyard mix my hens so far the barnyard mixes are the only ones sitting

Cool,he is gorgeous