Topic of the Week - Integrating Chicks into an Adult Flock

sjturner79 said:

Close off the smallest mini coop one morning as soon as they are out of it for the day and see what happens at bed time.

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That's a good idea. I'll do that on the weekend when I know I'll be there to watch them at dusk.

I'm definitely seeing that raised-together grouping happening. That's one reason I'd like to get my three hatchlings roosting with the older gals. I've got one very friendly pullet and two cockerels in that group and the boys are going to have to go to new homes in another month or so. I'm worried that my little gal is going to be without a friend, since my other group of youngsters (who were in the brooder box together) constantly chase her away and she mainly hangs out with her brothers.

SueT said:

If you have no room for an alternate roost or they refuse to use one, you can improvise a divider on your roost. . This one is made out of cardboard and held in place with zip ties and a bungee. I eventually replaced it with 1/8" plywood. I find the olders are very happy with the arrangement --as are the youngsters. They got it right away, and never go to the wrong side.

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Excellent. Thinking outside the box. Or, is that inside the box?

silkwormlady said:

Yes. My oldest and younger (now laying) hens are pretty much 2 flocks. My problem is a Buff Orpington hen went broody on me ... and now the folders are not accepting her at all. She stays to herself, sometimes under the coop (wahn!) and only having a chance to boss the youngers when on the youngers' roost. The folders she was raised with won't even let her back on "their" roost. Suggestions? Let it be? Time heals all...

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Hopefully when her Brood Hormones fall she will be back with her friends.

Those broody moods make one quite irritable and result in minor conflicts in the flock and once she is back to normal, so will the flock dynamics normalize.

Ah! So it's her own hormonal levels that have to normalize after being allowed to be broody too long? Any rule of thumb how long this might take? I hate to see her hanging out all by herself ..

silkwormlady said:

Ah! So it's her own hormonal levels that have to normalize after being allowed to be broody too long? Any rule of thumb how long this might take? I hate to see her hanging out all by herself ..

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I have experience with only 2 that frequently went broody - IMO the longer the brood mood lasts, the longer it takes to get back to normal.

But, expect a few weeks

I have what amounts to a giant CREEP FEEDER SETUP where smaller birds can move about freely while larger are either enclosed or exclosed. Small birds interact with larger birds enabling the imprinting process yet the little ones can retreat as needed to keep from being picked on too much. Most are hen-reared which helps a lot although not all are with latter group in particular needing the ability to get away from elders.

You can force imprinting where all are confined although that is a special procedure requiring direct supervision to ensure no one is hurt. It also takes days to accomplish and knowing pecking order of larger birds.

Hi! It took a month to integrate my 3 Blk Orps with the other 3 pullets! What a bunch of bullies . They finally let the one on the bottom of the pecking order onto the roost. I tried everything to get her up there, to no avail. Sure makes me happy to see my six girls getting along, although at times I find them as a divided flock.

Melissa Sakata said:

Hi! It took a month to integrate my 3 Blk Orps with the other 3 pullets! What a bunch of bullies

. They finally let the one on the bottom of the pecking order onto the roost. I tried everything to get her up there, to no avail. Sure makes me happy to see my six girls getting along, although at times I find them as a divided flock.

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Congrats on your success. How old are the pullets?

Thank you! They are about 20-24 weeks old and still not laying. I have 2 10 week old Ameraucana chicks that will be integrated when they are much bigger, and the process will begin anew.

I plan on downsizing, as the coop is only 4x4, with nesting boxes in the back that adds to the coop. Their original run is 4x10, with a
5 x 15 chunnel attached, although they usually have the whole backyard when I am home.

Melissa Sakata said:

Thank you! They are about 20-24 weeks old and still not laying. I have 2 10 week old Ameraucana chicks that will be integrated when they are much bigger, and the process will begin anew.

I plan on downsizing, as the coop is only 4x4, with nesting boxes in the back that adds to the coop. Their original run is 4x10, with a
5 x 15 chunnel attached, although they usually have the whole backyard when I am home.

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Thanks - I was so hoping the young ones were a lot younger.

Good luck with the next groups integration.