When To Integrate Poults - Recommend Method

[smoknz28]

Well, our poults vary in age at this point.... between 4 and 1-1/2 months.

We've had them separated from the rest of our flock that live together....Rio Grandes, Bourbon Reds and Chocolates along with various breeds of chickens.

When we let our adult flock out of the coop, we'll release our poults into the coop with the door closed so they continue getting use to their living environment and know where it is safe to come back to. We allow our flock to roam freely in our 3-acres though they only use a very small portion of that.

When is it recommended for us to go ahead and release them into the rest of our flock and is there a recommended method in doing so?

At times, we have released one or two of them into the flock and you can immediately see the adult turkeys fluffing up on them and wanting to peck them along with some of the chickens. I understand there is a pecking order that needs to be settled, but I do worry they could be pecked to death.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[smoknz28]

Thoughts on this?

 

[StewedMammal]

I usually let my poults go with my adult chickens and turkeys when they are about 2-3 months old. Never have problems with fighting as long as they are introduced at night.

 

[smoknz28]

I usually let my poults go with my adult chickens and turkeys when they are about 2-3 months old. Never have problems with fighting as long as they are introduced at night.

Interesting...never thought about introducing them together at night...

What I have been doing so far is in the mornings when I let the adult flock out to free range....I will close the coop and let free the poults and chicks into the coop so they can run around freely in an enclosed larger area that they will call home and so they know where safe is at when the sun starts to set.

I've also started letting some of the poults and chicks come out of the coop with the adult flock and there are a couple of the turkey hens and chicken hens that go after them and peck them pretty hard. I understand the pecking order precedence that needs to be set...but some of the pecking is pretty harsh and I'm worried about leaving the poults and chicks out like that with them as they may get pecked to death.

I will see about letting the chicks and poults out with the adult flock tonight and monitor them for a bit before calling it a night.

 

[StewedMammal]

Interesting...never thought about introducing them together at night...

What I have been doing so far is in the mornings when I let the adult flock out to free range....I will close the coop and let free the poults and chicks into the coop so they can run around freely in an enclosed larger area that they will call home and so they know where safe is at when the sun starts to set.

I've also started letting some of the poults and chicks come out of the coop with the adult flock and there are a couple of the turkey hens and chicken hens that go after them and peck them pretty hard. I understand the pecking order precedence that needs to be set...but some of the pecking is pretty harsh and I'm worried about leaving the poults and chicks out like that with them as they may get pecked to death.

I will see about letting the chicks and poults out with the adult flock tonight and monitor them for a bit before calling it a night.

I have a few older pullets and turkey hens that chase the poults around a bit and peck at them pretty hard sometimes. I wouldn't worry about them getting killed however due to the fact that you free range and the poults could easily get away and hide from the adults. Also when I said to put them in with the adults at night, I meant to put the poults in the coop with the adults once all the adults are locked up for the night. Be sure to let them out a bit early the first few mornings so they don't get beaten up too much. How long have the poults been going in the coop during the day?

 

[smoknz28]

I have a few older pullets and turkey hens that chase the poults around a bit and peck at them pretty hard sometimes. I wouldn't worry about them getting killed however due to the fact that you free range and the poults could easily get away and hide from the adults. Also when I said to put them in with the adults at night, I meant to put the poults in the coop with the adults once all the adults are locked up for the night. Be sure to let them out a bit early the first few mornings so they don't get beaten up too much. How long have the poults been going in the coop during the day?

Thank you.

The way we built our coop...is that we have the overall large coop that has a smaller coop enclosed in it. This smaller coop has a door, we can lock, and chicken wire to separate it from the rest of the coop. This smaller coop is where we have the poults and chicks. So, they have been in with the adults...for a month...just haven't fully let them run free with them.

I did understand what you meant by introducing them at night and we plan on trying it this evening.

 

[LovedMyAlydar]

What we have done and its worked quite well is keep them inside until they are pretty much fully feathered, then we have a baby pen that we put them in for several days to a week, let them stay out there during the daytime hours with the entire mixed flock of chickens, guineas, turkeys, etc. At night if it's cold we bring them in, if not we put them in the coop in a box with a screened top. After a few days we begin to let them out with the flock with the gate to their baby pen open. We do this with my husband or son and I out there watching for any bullying by the older critters. There is usually a little but we let them go with a little since they have to learn to deal with this stuff. After a night or two of this we just begin to let them out in the mornings with the rest of the flock. We do put them in the pen so they can eat together without the hog chicken stealing their starter feed. Then after an hour let them out and have never had a problem. Right now we have 2.5 month old turkeys and month old turkeys outside with the big guys without any problems. And the turkeys can more than hold their own, with the one biggest male taking on my big rooster and running him off. This might not work for everyone but has worked nicely for us.

 

[smoknz28]

Thank you. Informative and we'll try a couple approaches to this. ;-)