Adding chickens to the flock

[PoppyGAT]

I have about 30 assorted breed chickens in the coop. They are all about 4 1/2 months old. I am trying to introduce 6 Production Blues into the coop that are about 1 1/2 months younger. Last night I put them in a cage and placed the cage inside the coop while the main flock was roosting. This morning I let them out of the cage and the other chickens were chasing them around pecking them and they all ran back into the cage. I now have them back in the cage, inside the coop. Is there a better way to handle this? Should I just let the get chased around until the stop or should I let them catch up in size to the others. All help appreciated

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

I would more slowly introduce them. And when you introduce them sit near the coop so you can observe. They may just be chasing them to show pecking order. Make sure that the others let them eat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

It would help to know what you have to work with, mainly size in feet or meters of any coops and runs and how they are tied together. Photos might help. It's hard to give specific suggestions when I don't know what you have to work with.

It often helps to house the younger ones across wire from the others for a while, I'd suggest at least a week. That gives them a chance for the newness to wear off and maybe get them better accepted into the flock. When you let them mingle, having multiple feeding and watering stations widely spread out can reduce points of conflict. The more room they have the better. I don't mean 4 square feet in the coop and 10 in the run, I mean as much room as you can give them to get away from each other and stay away. It often helps to have clutter, things they can hide under, behind, or over and break line of sight. Things like that improve the quality of whatever room you have. I'd avoid locking them together in relatively small spaces. Don't crowd them. If they want to sleep separately let them as long as they are not sleeping in your nests and are somewhere predator safe.

People do this kind of thing all the time. With sufficient room and patience it often goes very well. But observe and have a Plan B ready in case you do run into problems. Good luck and once again,

 

[aart]

Last night I put them in a cage and placed the cage inside the coop while the main flock was roosting. This morning I let them out of the cage and the other chickens were chasing them around pecking them and they all ran back into the cage.

Takes longer than overnight.

Here's some tips about......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/