different aged chickens

[duckidaho]

We are new at chickens and were thinking of trying to get a few laying aged hens, then adding layers and broilers that we get as chicks. Will the older and newer ones get along. We will be raising the chicks seperately until they are big enough to go outside.

[Bonnie L]

They'll need a few days to readjust the pecking order, but usually it isn't a problem.

[tyusclan]

If you can put the new addititons to the flock in at night while they're on the roost it'll help the transition, and they usually won't fight as much.

[Wisconsin Ann]

You'll want to create some sort of hidey-hole for the little ones. A piece of plywood up on blocks; a sturdy box with a small hole....something where thesmall birds can get away from the big birds. After a few days or a week, it won't be big deal...but it can be a LIFE SAVER for the little guys.

If possible, put the small new guys in a cage/separate area inside the coop for a day. give them food and water of course. Let the hens get used to the new chicks. Chickens HATE change, but once they get used to something...it's part of their tiny psychies.

If you just throw them into the coop, you'll probably watch the hens pecking the little guys horribly. Possibly to death. (the new chicks are seen as "outsiders" and a threat to the flock) I've seen a 6week chick wander into another coop's territory and get killed.

You might want to set up another feeder so there's "more room at the trough".

good luck with your birds

[PD-Riverman]

Mixing them has never worked for me, but as I learned from "messing" with chickens---I never want to mix them anyway. I cut my chicken pen into sections and I add new young chickens to one section and when the oldest layers are 1 to 1/2 years old, I sell them. I usually have 3 different age chickens, but always sell the older ones by fall so I don't have to keep them up through the winter. For me---this works out best this way and gives me the most eggs for the amount of feed. Layers over 1 1/2 years old "For Me" slow down on the amount of eggs they lay so I keep young layers!