Mixing Chickens

The five younger chickens (pullets) that have been living in the chicken tractor were getting old enough to be put in with the older chickens in the big coop. They had turned 18 weeks old and had passed the stage when they needed separate feed with more protein. The two young roosters had just started crowing a little in the mornings and were beginning to display their dominant tendencies. So it was time they moved.

I expected a little trouble when I put them together so I watched them closely the first day. The little roosters who had previously been at the top of the pecking order, soon learned they would have to submit, at least for a few more weeks, to the older and larger hens. They fought at first, then were hen pecked a few days, then completely ignored. It was quite funny seeing the little boys walking around with their tails between their legs, literally.