[Mrs Soup]

Hi All - I usually hang around the allotment threads, but I have 3 Marans in the garden as well.

I've had my girls two years now and they have laid well though the summer, though they don't lay much through the winter months. I was thinking about adding to the flock this spring, but all the books say don't mix ages of birds.

Could someone provide me with some practical advice on whether this is the case?

Maybe I could get some ex-battery hens as they'd be the same age?

[Vember]

Hi Mrs Soup

My birds are all different ages & breed and I've never had any problems
My oldest are 5 years old (4 eggs a week in winter ) and the youngest nearly or around 30 ish weeks (yet to lay )



Sarah

[mumsy]

Can't see any reason why the age should make a difference as you would normally introduce younger ones.  The main thing is to keep them seperated but so they can see one another for a while, but popping them in the coop at night & seperating again during the day, til they are used to one another, this could take a few days or weeks as I found :roll:  Once together usually a few cuffuffles to sort out the pecking order, be sure to put a couple of feeders/drinkers around so the the ones at the bottom of the pecking order is able to eat/drink without being shooed off.
Good luck  

[Mrs Soup]

Thank you both for your advice.

I'm much more confident about introducing new birds now.

[kimT]

Its no problem mixing birds of different ages as long as you do it carefully.
When you get new girls always keep them separate from your original flock but so they can see each other sort of getting to know you stuff. I do this for approx two weeks and when you feel happy that things seem ok let your new girls out but do it about 30 mins before they all go to bed, that way the birds are all much calmer and all they are thinking about is roosting. You will need to do this for longer periods each day by week 3 they should all be friends and then you will be able to pop them all in together in the same hen house. You will of course get a bit of chasing and pecking just to let the new girls know who is boss! This system has worked for me every time with young and older birds.

Good luck.