Would This Work?

[chickachee]

I've got 16 chickens total - all pullets. Four are 8.5 weeks old. The other 12 are 6 weeks old. The younger ones have been in their brooder the whole time, the older girls got moved to a large dog kennel about May 18. The kennel has wires sides, the brooder has a hardware cloth window that the littles ones can look through and see the older ones - I have the two cages pushed together. The younger ones seem to gaze a lot at the older girls through their window. I'm thinking that since I will be moving them to the coop next week, it may be a better idea to put the younger ones out in the coop a day or two before the older ones so they could have a sense of "ownership" and might not be intimidated by the four older ones when they arrive?? Do I HAVE to keep them separated out in the coop to really get a good look/see at each other? I'm not relishing the idea of having to set up some kind of fencing to keep them apart. I think it may be a hassle to try to get a divider worked out. I'd like them all to be able to roost, but the roosts are on one side, so one group would be out of luck. I'm retired, so I would be able to check in on them frequently to see how they were adjusting - if that would be sufficient??? Any advice??

Sheila

 

[PekinBantam]

It really does depend on your hens, some will gladly accept other chickens, others will peck them bloody. A good idea to tell what kind you have is to separate them by a fence of chicken wire and see if the older ones are curious of the younger chicks. If they are curious and don't seem to mean any harm, remove the fence, if they don't appear to notice the chicks, we have a problem, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there... Update us soon!

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I have kept many chickens over the past 5 yrs. Currently I have a momma with week old babies running with others from 2 mos to 1+ year. 3 Roosters, too-I never have any fights, unreasonable picking on each other. My flock is always mixed ages as it is in their natural state--I'd give it a try.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

As long as your coop and run are roomy enough for them to get out of each others way it shouldn't be a big problem, they are at a good age to integrate them. Sometimes its good to have baffles or hideouts they can run around to dodge a bully. Usually it's best to put them in at night when they are sleepy.