merging two small flocks ??

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merging two small flocks ??

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Kathryn

Joined: 21 Jan 2010
Posts: 92

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 5:27 pm Post subject: merging two small flocks ??

I know there will be someone here who knows .....we were recently given a group of five 13 month old buff orphingtins. We have kept them separated from our other four hens for the past 3 weeks. They can see and hear each other but can have no contact. Both sets of girls went down in their egg production for abit but are back to normal on that now.

I want to be able to have them all share the same space soon. How much longer should I keep them apart? and what is the best way to mingle the 2 flocks with minimal pecking and trauma?? I know to sneak them onto shared perches while they are sleeping [will they really sleep through that??] but should I do all at once or 1 -2 each day and how long before the 2nd batch ?

I also have 8 2-week old chicks now living in the downstairs bath....that we will want to join the big girls when it get an bit warmer and they are a bit older...should i wait til the chicks are ready and do this all together or let the 2 sets of hens become intergrated before introducing the chicks????

looking forward to hearing the DS wisdom......thanks

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 6:48 pm Post subject:
Let the adult chickens in together straight away and wait until the chicks are 16 to 20 weeks old.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 8:22 pm Post subject:
I always introduce new birds at night after roosting time. Usually by the morning they have forgotten who's who anyway. I agree with Bodger on the young birds, I would wait until they are 16 weeks old before introducing to adult birds.

maryf

Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 341
Location: suffolk

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 8:47 pm Post subject:

I've merged groups several times but they've always been similar sized groups, personally I'd put say 6 of the new ones in with the old ones tomorrow and then the rest in a couple of days. I have done this at night, like Tavascarow and also early morning so they have all day to get to know each other, just check they've all gone into bed together before it gets too dark! And yes 16 to 20 weeks for the chicks - need to be big enough to cope!

Edited after rereading post, sorry I thought you said you had 20 new hens so just ignore that bit of my post

Kathryn

Joined: 21 Jan 2010
Posts: 92

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 11:10 pm Post subject:
Thanks all for the replies..downsizers always come through!! Is 3 weeks a long enough quarantine period to be sure they won't be passing any bugs or ?? to each other? Will wait til the chicks are at least 16 weeks old.

northmoor

Joined: 08 Aug 2008
Posts: 380

Posted: Tue May 10, 11 11:23 pm Post subject:

Kathryn wrote:

Thanks all for the replies..downsizers always come through!! Is 3 weeks a long enough quarantine period to be sure they won't be passing any bugs or ?? to each other?
Will wait til the chicks are at least 16 weeks old.

most illnesses are airborne, so if they can see each other they can pass infections, so i wouldnt worry.
i issolate new birds away from flock for 6 weeks, however this is not always a sure fire way to stop diseases spreading as some birds are carriers, especailly with things like microplasma

kirstyfern

Joined: 03 Jan 2010
Posts: 1574
Location: Great Dunmow, Essex

Posted: Wed May 11, 11 3:50 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

I always introduce new birds at night after roosting time.
Usually by the morning they have forgotten who's who anyway.
I agree with Bodger on the young birds, I would wait until they are 16 weeks old before introducing to adult birds.

As above.
They will still have a bit of sorting to do in the pecking order but should settle down soon enough x

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