Could I mix ex-Batts and POL birds?

[Cakehead]

Do desperately want to take some ex-batts when we get our chicken run up and running, but also would like a couple of reliable layers too, as have toddlers and want some eggs. We have a local farm that sells POL birds, and I'd thought I could pick some up the same day as the ex-Batts arrived so they all start off new together. Am I being naive here? Anyone else done this?

Bumping for you.

Ex batts can be in very poor shape and may get picked on by the POL girls.

I think you need to keep the ex batts seperate for a month till they get there strength. I am looking at getting some at the moment. someone is lending me an extra house and run and then they will go in together with my big birds when they are stong and healthy. I think it is such a worthwhile thing to do. also i thinky ou still get quite a lot of eggs from ex batts, they are only 1 year old and lay till about 4.

We had a couple of ex batts and they even hated each other! Kept them apart for quite a while until they feathered up and then introduced one at a time to existing birds. The smallest batt was a bit of a bully even though she went in last, having had almost no feathers! When you get your ex bats, try and get them all about the same size if possible. Its a bit of a lottery as its all done very quickly and you are just given the first that the helpers pick up, so don't be afraid to ask for a different one ( even though you will want to take them all, they are so pathetic to look at). They were both great layers. Very because we lost them both, and another treasured one to a fox in broad daylight on Friday.