7 week olds transition to flock

[IvyBeans]

I was really worried how this would go, it’s my first time introducing pullets to hens. My first flock of 4 is a year old, and my second 4, 7 weeks.

I started just letting them free range occasionally at about 5 weeks old. The hen I was worried about mostly ignored them, but was curious. My sweet lavender Orpington was the one who would randomly walk over and peck them here and there. The other 2 totally ignored them.

Then I sectioned off the back end of the run with chicken wire and had them out there most of the day a few days. The third day, the kids forgot to close the back of the run after bringing the chicks some food, and disaster didn’t ensue. So I kept the chicken wire up, but didn’t close the door the next day. The hens could squeeze through and sometimes I’d find they’d swapped places and didn’t eat each other’s food. I decided to put them in the coop that night when the hens were asleep. They weren’t friends, but they survived and stayed in a cuddle pile on the floor. The next night, we had to put them in the coop, but the third night the chicks made their way in. We have an automatic door, so didn’t see it happen.

They’re still 2 different flocks, but within a few days, the big hens were letting the babies roost with them at night. Besides a peck here and there, the big hens seem a bit scared of the babies if anything. The babies have started being less wary of us because the big girls are happy to see us.

I honestly thought it was going to be a blood bath, especially since I planned to keep them separated longer and they only got mingled in the run by accident. I’m glad they did because I am so sick of that brooder being in my house!

I thought I’d lose at least one chick integrating them because I couldn’t wait until they were fully grown and I didn’t and all 8 were roosting together by day 5. So relieved!

 

[DobieLover]

Congratulations on a successful integration!

I thought I’d lose at least one chick integrating them because I couldn’t wait until they were fully grown and I didn’t and all 8 were roosting together by day 5.

Lots of people get information mixed up or receive bad advice. If you have plenty of resources and space, integration can go very smoothly. It's when people come home with new birds and stick them on the roost at night and think everything will be great and come to find that a bird has been pecked to death. They are not so stupid as to think the interlopers are part of their flock and will just accept them. You did not do this. You gave each group time to acclimate to the other.

The reason why your sweet hen gave the littles the most grief is because she is hoping to dominate them so she won't be on the bottom of the hierarchy any longer. The lowest ranking members are always the hardest on the littles.

They will remain in 2 sub-flocks until the pullets start to lay. Then they will shift ranking and form a full flock with, perhaps, new friends buddying up.

 

[mcdze]

sounds rather painless .. theres usually very little problems with smaller numbers .. the problems start when you got say 10 12 adults of varying age and dump a load of pullets in .. then it can get viscious lol

 

[IvyBeans]

Interesting info! Thank you.

I do think I may have to sell 2 for them to fit in my coop and this was the plan all along. If I kept all 4 new pullets it would be a bit over 3 feet per hen in the coop, but plenty of run space. They’re docile breeds, but I’m prepared to let go of 1 or 2. I’m more attached than I thought I’d be! I’m planning to wait until it becomes a problem.

I thought it would be better to integrate them as a flock of 4 for strength in numbers and in case something happened.

 

[Callender Girl]

How wonderful that integration went so well! Congratulations!

 

[olivigus]

Sounds like a successful integration! Regarding needing to rehome two of them, as long as you have a nice big run, the indoor space may not be an issue. Based on the formulas to calculate coop space, I technically have too many chickens for my coop, but since they only go into the coop to lay and sleep at night and spend their days out in a run with lots of space, it's never been an issue. I live in CA, so they can be outdoors year round though. I think you will be fine, as long as everyone has room to roost and they have plenty of room outside of the coop.

 

[McChooky]

Congratulations! I needed more room after adding 15 chicks last year. Just re-homed 4 hens and a rooster this week! Last year I divided my run and kept the pullets separate until they were laying .I just prefer mine are grown before adding them.They can hold their own then

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

I was really worried how this would go, it’s my first time introducing pullets to hens. My first flock of 4 is a year old, and my second 4, 7 weeks.

I started just letting them free range occasionally at about 5 weeks old. The hen I was worried about mostly ignored them, but was curious. My sweet lavender Orpington was the one who would randomly walk over and peck them here and there. The other 2 totally ignored them.

Then I sectioned off the back end of the run with chicken wire and had them out there most of the day a few days. The third day, the kids forgot to close the back of the run after bringing the chicks some food, and disaster didn’t ensue. So I kept the chicken wire up, but didn’t close the door the next day. The hens could squeeze through and sometimes I’d find they’d swapped places and didn’t eat each other’s food. I decided to put them in the coop that night when the hens were asleep. They weren’t friends, but they survived and stayed in a cuddle pile on the floor. The next night, we had to put them in the coop, but the third night the chicks made their way in. We have an automatic door, so didn’t see it happen.

They’re still 2 different flocks, but within a few days, the big hens were letting the babies roost with them at night. Besides a peck here and there, the big hens seem a bit scared of the babies if anything. The babies have started being less wary of us because the big girls are happy to see us.

I honestly thought it was going to be a blood bath, especially since I planned to keep them separated longer and they only got mingled in the run by accident. I’m glad they did because I am so sick of that brooder being in my house!

I thought I’d lose at least one chick integrating them because I couldn’t wait until they were fully grown and I didn’t and all 8 were roosting together by day 5. So relieved!

Aww this is awesome news! Your life is so much easier now! lol I’m about to do the same. Hens are quite interesting. I had a 2 week crazy chick get loose on me today and was freaking out hollering for my husband because the rooster and hens were all around the baby. Won’t you know that baby was marching around like it owned the place and my oldest flock were just chillin’ haha they could have cared less. I was so nervous. I did get her back in the brooder. That was the only pic I got but I had to share.

 

[McChooky]

Interesting info! Thank you.

I do think I may have to sell 2 for them to fit in my coop and this was the plan all along. If I kept all 4 new pullets it would be a bit over 3 feet per hen in the coop, but plenty of run space. They’re docile breeds, but I’m prepared to let go of 1 or 2. I’m more attached than I thought I’d be! I’m planning to wait until it becomes a problem.

I thought it would be better to integrate them as a flock of 4 for strength in numbers and in case something happened.

My flocks been crowded so getting rid of 5 helped .They have 16 SQ ft each (all the roosting bars have poop boards which adds a considerable amount of space)My free range time is limited and irregular here because we're right up against the woods (under a canopy of trees) I still let mine out everyday even if its just 30 min.