When to put pullets in with the big girls

[NoseyChickens]

I have some silkie pullets about 3 1/2 months old. I am new to chickens. How big should they be before I put them into the coop with my year old ladies?

 

[Lynn WA]

At 3 1/2 months, they're probably pretty close in size to your year-olds. Now would be a good time. My 4-month-olds hold their own with the older hens.

 

[NoseyChickens]

Even if some of my other hens are standard sized birds? They seem so fragile! We have a larged fenced off area in our yard for the chickens to roam safe from our kids and dogs. I have my pullets in there in a wooden dog house with it's own fencing around it. So the hens can see them and they aren't bothering them at all.

 

[Lynn WA]

Sorry, I don't have any silkies, only bigger chickens. From what I've read on this forum, smaller chickens sometimes rule the roost! If you do put them together, expect some pecking so the year-olds let the younger ones know who's boss. There wasn't any blood drawn when I introduced the newbies, but the new chicks certainly figured out their place quickly. The babies were really intimidated, but now,after a month or so, are almost equal There will always be a pecking order!

 

[NoseyChickens]

thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[lalaland]

Before you integrate them:
If the pullets pen and the hens pen are next to each other, throw some scratch at the boundary so they get used to eating right next to each other. You can judge how ready they are to merge this way.
When you integrate them:
Keep the hens in the coop and let the pullets explore the new run for a couple of hours first (you can give your hens a cabbage or something to keep them occupied in the coop while they are locked up).
Make sure there are lots of barriers in the run that will let the pullets hide behind, or be out of eyesight of the hens - hay bales work great for this
Make sure there are multiple food and water stations so everyone has access
right when you let the hens out, throw scratch around everywhere so everyone is pretty busy and distracted from bullying.
expect some squawking, but try hard not to intervene unless there is blood
will probably go better than you expect!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
This is very good advice!!! Not all integrations are the same some go better than others.

 

[NoseyChickens]

Well, I did just what lalaland said and the intregration went so smoothly I cannot even believe it! Thank you so much for your advice. There has been no fighting or anything. The pushiest hen I have is letting the little ones know who's boss, but she's being pretty gental about it.

 

[lalaland]

great! so glad to hear it went well - makes life so much more easy, doesn't it?