Adding a younger pullet.

[enok]

We have three pullets that are about 4-5 months old. We've since added a younger pullet of 8-9 weeks old. The older pullets will tolerate the new girl to a point. When treats are given they will give the new girl a tough time. They have been together for about a week now. Will the new one become part of the group or should I separate them?

 

[Den in Penn]

She's tolerated so she's accepted. She'll have to work her way up the pecking order as she gets older. Try splitting up the treats in more than one pile, spread the scratch around.

 

[Fierlin1182]

She should have a better chance when she gets bigger - the pecking order isn't concrete! For now, it's probably a wise idea to split up food and treats if she's getting picked on. Sometimes I even shut the bigger girls up in the coop during feeding to give the younger ones a bit of a break, then let them out again after they've had their fill.

 

[azygous]

If you ever add smaller pullets again, try to do it in units of at least three or four. They stand a much better chance of being accepted that way.

That said, I recommend the use of a panic room when adding smaller birds to the flock. Simply fence off a small corner of the run and cut small openings in each wall so the small one can slip through but not the bigger ones. Place food and water inside so the small one will always have a place to eat in peace. By the time they are too big to no longer fit through the holes in the enclosure, they should be pretty much integrated.

I have very good success integrating pullets as small as six-weeks old utilizing the panic room. You'll be amazed how quickly they figure out how to escape to safety through the small holes. You could also use a large pet crate with the door modified with an insert with a smaller access cut into it.