2 separate flocks

[ehoneybee]

We have 1 original, 3 new hens (unfriendly given to us when we lost 2 to hawks), and 4 new wonderfully friendly girls picked up Sunday. Right now they're each in a coop (2) and don't mingle while free ranging. They haven't even really noticed each other. Is this ok? I don't care but should they be integrated? They forage on 1 acre and their coops are <10 feet from each other.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens take a very long time to accept new members. It's good they are ignoring each other. Many times there are fights.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

As long as they aren’t fighting they should be fine. I had the same problem but my original girls were fighting the newbies

 

[Sparrowsong98]

Mine always feared the young ones after a particularly bad experience with some young marans chicks who bullied the adults from day one. They will merge at one point, just give everyone some time and do not rush them. I have found that rushing the process stresses everyone out and causes problems down the road.

 

[ehoneybee]

The 3 new ones we introduced to our 1 hen integrated right away. A pecking order was quickly established (existing hen spent all day mounting and pecking the other 3). Is it because now we esswntially have 2 flocks made up of 4 hens that they don't need to do that? We're not sure if we'll keep the 2 coops or make/get 1 bigger one for all but we are going to build a run to hold all of them so I guess then we'll see what happens. I wonder if we keep the 2 coops if the same ones will always roost in them or if they'll switch it up?

Chickens take a very long time to accept new members. It's good they are ignoring each other. Many times there are fights.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The 3 new ones we introduced to our 1 hen integrated right away. A pecking order was quickly established (existing hen spent all day mounting and pecking the other 3). Is it because now we esswntially have 2 flocks made up of 4 hens that they don't need to do that? We're not sure if we'll keep the 2 coops or make/get 1 bigger one for all but we are going to build a run to hold all of them so I guess then we'll see what happens. I wonder if we keep the 2 coops if the same ones will always roost in them or if they'll switch it up?

I have a big shed and a separate coop for bantams. They never change homes unless I make them, and it takes months of confinement in the shed to get them to stay there when released. So odds are they will continue to go to whatever coop is considered home to them. A new bigger coop would equalise everything, and everyone would be confused, and probably merge a bit quicker.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Fighting is very normal,nothing wrong with a fight.It helps sort things and can make things better for the flocks future,as long as they are not drawing a ton of blood and making,Serious injuries they will be fine.Your actually quite lucky their ignoring one another,mine would run across the yard to fight another bird.