Adding Single Adult to Group of Pullets

[DRotblatt]

I'm new to BYC and chickens. Just finished a coop and run a couple weeks ago and got 5 pullets soon after. Thing is, about 10 days before we got the pullets (had pretty much finished screening in the run), my son and I found a Silver Leghorn on the side of the road. Long story (and chase) short, we ended up with a beautiful bird, but it's probably 5-6 months old (has yet to lay an egg), and the pullets are between 2-3 months old now (5 different breeds, and all slightly different ages - purchased as 6-10 weeks old from Dare2dream). I divided off a section of the run with some poultry screen and a couple of 2x4's, so they can all hang out next to each other, but the Leghorn (Isabella Bird, or Bella) is separated and can't peck the youngsters.

Question; when can I put them together? I've read a bit about combining flocks, but most talk about adding young birds to an established flock. This is adding a larger bird to a flock of younger birds. Bella has gotten out into the run a few times, and within a couple of minutes shes pecking the smaller birds. BTW; the pullets are all different breeds, and different ages. The largest of the pullets is around her size, the smallest is about half her weight.

Thanks in advance!

Dan

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would start daily supervised mingling. Separate her out when the pecking gets excessive, otherwise a few pecks is okay and normal. Separate her out when you can't keep an eye on things. Do this daily until you feel comfortable leaving them together or you pullets are big enough to handle her. It could take days or months depending on the hens personality.

 

[aart]

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

So might this:
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.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Ridgerunner]

As you’ve noticed it’s not about size since your younger pullets her size don’t stand up to her, which is normal. It’s about maturity. More mature birds dominate less mature birds. It’s not unusual for a more mature bird to peck or even attack a less mature bird if they are close together. Occasionally you will get one that will go out of her way to chase a younger bird or try to hurt it, but that doesn’t happen that often. The problem is usually when they are close together. So a question, how big is the coop and the run?

One way chickens have learned to live together in a flock is that when there is conflict the weaker runs away from the stronger and then avoids the stronger. There may be some chasing involved but normally if the weaker runs away and stays away things calm down. If the weaker does not run away the stronger doesn’t realize she has won so she keeps attacking. If the weaker can’t run away, either not enough room or they get trapped, they tend to squat down and try to hide their head. The attacker tends to go for the head since that is where they can do the most damage. This can get very dangerous.

Normally the younger will avoid the older for this reason if they have enough room, but you have something else working against you. Chickens are social creatures, they want to be around other chickens. That leghorn instinctively wants to be around those younger pullets yet when she gets close her dominance instincts may kick in and she pecks. Their brains don’t always follow the same logic ours do.

How bad is that pecking? Is she attacking the pullets to cause damage or is she just establishing her dominance? How do the pullets react when she pecks? Do they try to run away or just stand there? Does she chase them? Is it one specific pullet or just various pullets at random? Sometimes they attack one and leave the rest alone.

It could be that she is establishing her dominance and will soon be fine with them. If that is the case just let them work it out. As long as no blood is drawn they’ll be OK. If she is trying to kill one with constant vicious attacks, especially to the head, that’s different. I don’t know how long they were side by side before she escaped, but fix that so she can’t escape and leave them side by side longer. Let them get used to each other. Then when you can be around to observe try them together and see how it goes. Don’t be too quick to intervene but if one is trapped and she is viciously going for the head stop it and separate them for a while longer. Or is one starts to bleed, stop it.

It’s possible they will soon work it out and things will be pretty calm down there. It’s possible you will need to keep her separated until the young ones mature enough to stand up to her and force their way into the pecking order. That’s normally about the time mine start laying, give or take a few weeks. When they do sort out the pecking order after they all mature don’t be surprised if one of your smaller hens is the dominant one. It often works out that way. It’s the spirit in the chicken, not the size.

 

[DRotblatt]

Thanks all for the input! First of all the Leghorn (Bella) just laid her first egg today (which is my first egg ever)!

The run is 10'x10', I've separated off about 4'x6' for Bella for now.

I let her into the run with the other birds for 15 minutes or so and it was pretty calm. She mainly just scratched around, but if one of the others got close she would give a peck - especially at the little barred rock. But the rock learned really quick and would just keep away from her. Definitely territorial, when the others went into her side of the run she was eyeing them, then kind of herded them off with a peck or two. The others have plenty of space to run away. Then she started to get a little more aggressive and I separated her. It's pretty interesting to watch her behavior. When she pecks the birds I can see it's like a cat or dog taking a swipe at an annoying kitten or puppy combined with a little territorial reaction thrown in.

The plan is to give them some time together every day. I think she'll calm down fairly quickly. We'll see!

Thanks again all for the suggestions.

Oh....three watering nipples, two separate feed spots....not much to fight over there!