Adding New Birds

[gmayberry]

Early this spring I lost two birds leaving me with one rooster and one hen about a year old.
The first week of July I picked up two Delewares and a Plymouth Rock about fourteen weeks old.
I left them in a cage in the run for about a week to give the two older birds a chance to get used to them.
We've noticed recently that the younger birds stay in the coop all day long. At night they roost on top of the nest boxes instead of with the other two. If they come outside during the day and the old roo moves they fly back into the coop. He is not really aggressive towards them but back in the coop they go. We feed and water in the early evening and they come outside for some scratch or cracked corn. They all seem healthy but I have a concern that they may not get enough food or water being in the coop all day.
There is no real aggressive behavior when they are out in the run but they stay away from the older birds. They are around twenty-two weeks old now. Is this normal or will they remain more or less two seperate flocks?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[thebanthams]

they were not adjusted to their new home. so its normal for them to start that habit. The roo is probably scared of strangers. it will take time for them to change their habits.

 

[gmayberry]

We have had them for two months.
How long will it take for the older chickens to get used to them?
Winter is just around the corner and they will have to exist as a group.

 

[thebanthams]

no sure why they dont want to get along!! are they fighting each other? no blood? Some hens are very bossy!! if they are chasing each other thats normal,