Adding to the flock

[Soleil_A]

Hi.

I have 2 laying hens, Bertha and Frannie. I got 2 welsummer chicks that are now around 6 1/2 weeks. I am having some trouble introducing them to each other. They have been free ranging for a while together (around 1 week) and they show no interest in each other. The chicks try to avoid the older hens. I tried putting them in the coop together and Bertha and Frannie shook them up pretty badly. My coop is kinda small, but they get to free range everyday. I really don’t know what to do. Thanks for your help!

 

[featherhead007]

Bribe your chickens with treats, try that.

 

[Mrs. K]

Ignoring younger chicks is very common in established flocks. The younger chicks will be a sub flock until they begin to lay, then your flock will be come one. But they can tolerate each other.

How small is the coop? Because while you can cheat now on size, free ranging won't help with the size with the long dark nights of winter, then they are in the coop. Also by the time winter gets here, the chicks will be full sized and taking up more room.

Try putting the chicks in the coop alone. Let them explore it, get it figured out without something chasing them. Do you have a run at all? Cause often times, you can work with the big space of free ranging, then the smaller space of the run, and then they often times will just roost up together.

You might create a safe zone in the coop, where the chicks can be without being in reach of the older birds. If one bird is really mean, the other so so. Put the mean bird, where the chicks were, and try adding the chicks to a single bird.

good luck,
Mrs K

 

[SueT]

Make a temporary "see-no-touch" setup in the coop.....It may take a few weeks....

 

[Soleil_A]

Ignoring younger chicks is very common in established flocks. The younger chicks will be a sub flock until they begin to lay, then your flock will be come one. But they can tolerate each other.

How small is the coop? Because while you can cheat now on size, free ranging won't help with the size with the long dark nights of winter, then they are in the coop. Also by the time winter gets here, the chicks will be full sized and taking up more room.

Try putting the chicks in the coop alone. Let them explore it, get it figured out without something chasing them. Do you have a run at all? Cause often times, you can work with the big space of free ranging, then the smaller space of the run, and then they often times will just roost up together.

You might create a safe zone in the coop, where the chicks can be without being in reach of the older birds. If one bird is really mean, the other so so. Put the mean bird, where the chicks were, and try adding the chicks to a single bird.

good luck,
Mrs K

I do have a run. I have let the chicks in the coop alone for the past couple days as well. I have also tried just putting one of the hens with the two chicks. Nothing seems to work.

 

[Soleil_A]

Alright I put the chicks in the coop with the hens. I did it and it is night time. So far, no screeching.

 

[Mrs. K]

Try setting up a shelter in the run for the chicks. There is no real reason to rush them all staying in the coop. You need the chicks to live long enough to become part of the flock, they won't be part of the flock until they lay.

However, right now, I have three chicks that started out in the run in a shelter, and are now in the coop at night. At first on the floor, then in a nest, and now, a couple times I have found them on the board at roost height. My hens ignore them.

Let them work it out, they will. I love one way gates, cause that lets the chicks explore on their terms, and retreat when the adults get to be too much. The big girls get used to them.

MRs K

 

[aart]

I tried putting them in the coop together and Bertha and Frannie shook them up pretty badly. My coop is kinda small,

How big, in feet by feet, is your coop and run?
Do you have a separate roost for the newbies?
Dimensions and pics can really help here.
Space is key for integration, the newbies need to be able to get far enough(3-4') away from the adults as as not to appear insubordinate.

Here's some tips that may help.....
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.