We've 3x 1.5 y/o BO hens and 6 x 10wk old Americaunas (5 hens; 1 roo) Under normal situations, they are housed separately in a coop/run style chicken coop combo. The BO's in the fenced run and the Americaunas in the hardsided coop. We've screened off the door between the run and coop, so they can get to know one another without coming in contact with each other. We've let them mingle in the yard recently, and only the BO will peck when the little guys get too rowdy. They will graze together though. In your opinion, when is a good time to remove the screen on the door and hope they all get along? Any good tips for distracting chickens--i've heard a distracted chicken is a happy to welcome brothers and sisters into the flock kinda chicken. ) Thanks!
If they have been visible to each other for several weeks, and free- ranging together successfully, you may be fine putting them together. The usual advice is to wait until the younger ones are full-grown, or close to it, at 4 months. Distraction is good, may cut down on attacks, but it won't make them thrilled to meet new chickens. I use large objects such as containers, cages, kid toys, that they can run around and on top of. If your neighbor is having tree-work or pressure washing done, that can be helpful. But they still need to have some familiarity (visual) before putting them together. If they don't get along, I have found it suprisingly easy to get them separated out again (herding).
My Black Sex-Link chicks are 10 weeks old. They have been "roaming freely" with the grown chickens for a week now. The only problems I have noticed is that when I feed, the "Boss Hen" (a Buff Orpington) pecks at any others than approach THAT feeder! (So, I have another feeder that the younger ones flock to.) Occasionally the "Boss Hen" will chase the younger ones, but they are FAST and get away easily AND they give "Boss Hen" a WIDE BERTH. (She can be ill-tempered!) REALLY no serious problems with them all together. That's just the way it's been here. -Junkmanme-