what is better?

[wanttobefarmer]

I have an EE that is 3 months old and I bought her with 3 silkies. They have been housed together. I just sold the 3 silkies. Should I introduce my 3 month old EE to the existing flock of 12 chickens who are about 5 to 7 months old? or keep her in her own coop by herself until she gets older?I am planning on keeping this EE as I have other EE's and a few other breeds that I plan on breeding to an Ameraucana rooster that I just purchased.

 

[drdoolittle]

I would keep her in a pen with the lowest hen in the pecking order for awhile----hopefully next to or close enough to the pen the existing flock is in so they can see her and get used to her. Then when you put her in with them, do it at night when they are roosting-------they may not even realise she is with them when they first wake up! I would still keep an eye on things the first few days to make sure she can hold her own.