Introducing 50 new birds

[Quacking_chicken]

Hello,
I have a current flock of 15 two year old birds. They're my fun egg laying birds. My husband and I are also getting ready to start a meat chicken flock of 50 birds. We're building a giant coop and an enormous run to accommodate all the chickens (current and meat flock) together. I'm eager to move my current chickens over to our new coop as soon as it is done because it will be higher quality than our current coop. Our current one was our first try and while the birds seem happy I'm eager to get them in to the better area. Would it be better to wait though until the new meat birds are ready to incorporate with the adult birds and put them all in the new area at the same time? Should I let the older birds settle in to the new area and then cordon off part of the area and introduce the new birds slowly since the older birds will be so outnumbered? Is there any special precautions I should take with introducing so many young birds to my older flock? Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What breed of meat bird? When do you plan to process them? I would just keep them separately unless you plan to keep some long term?

 

[Quacking_chicken]

What breed of meat bird? When do you plan to process them? I would just keep them separately unless you plan to keep some long term?

Orpintons, we're going to pick the best 30 and keep them as a breeding flock so some of the birds will cohabitate long-term. None of the egg birds lay brown eggs so we'll only breed the Orpintons going forward.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Orpingtons are a dual purpose breed. They lay pretty well too. You should be able to integrate chicks at 4-10 weeks by penning them separately for a while so the adults get a good look at them for a few weeks. As long as you have plenty of space, and feeding stations integration can go easy. Not enough room and it will take a while.

How big is your new coop? I keep around 65-75 birds in a 40x40 shed. They get about 30x40 of it. My shed is pretty full at that stocking rate.

 

[Mrs. K]

Make sure the run is cluttered with hiding spots, multiple roosts, and feed stations. But adding MORE youngsters than older birds, will help. Pecking and chasing take energy, and a bird can only do so much. Having lots to chase, spreads the pecking out.

You might put the youngsters in there for 2-3 days, let them get it figured out, find the feeding stations, explore without being chased, then add the older birds.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like a potentially messy setup. I would introduce chicks to new confines first so they are on home turf when adults are added later. Owing to high numbers and assuming space is adequate, then you might be a able add hens at time chicks are as young as 2 weeks. Regardless, supervise for first couple hours. The hens will likely be intimidated by such a large number of little guys. If like in my setting, then you may be able to make out chicks making threats directed at the much larger adults. And the adults may even head the threats. Threats will sound like chicks "cheaping" backwards

 

[aart]

Hmmm, never really thought of Orps as 'meat' birds.
I eat layer birds, not much meat but delicious.
Orps look bigger(fluffy) but are the carcasses really that much bigger?

We're building a giant coop and an enormous run

How big are those in feet by feet?
50 birds is a lot!
Definitely plan to be able to split the new space for integration.

Would be great if you started a build thread of your new facilities here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/

Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @Quacking_chicken
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