Advice Pls! Mixing flocks for first time.

[LottieLou]

I have 4 one y/o hens. The 2 hens on top of pecking order are going to new home with four chicks already there and will be integrated by new owner. I am keeping the two lower ranking nicer hens. I have one chick I hatched that I am hoping to integrate with the two I'm keeping. The new chick is being brooded with 4 roosters that are going to new home. I am planning on keeping chick separated in coop with her own feeder, water, shelter, and perch until 16wk old. I then plan to let them first have contact when free ranging with goal of all in same coop by fall. We are purchasing shed for new coop prior to fall. Will new coop with same outdoor run make the est hens less aggressive? How should I integrate this new chick?

 

[lubird]

When we introduced our Buffs Minnie and Dolphin which we have had for about a year to the new chicks Edna and Ducky (about 14 weeks old) in a new coop that we built because we wanted more room. It did not stop our aggressive one (Dolphin) from attacking and not being too happy about the new friends. Because of this she has been in "chicken time out" for about a week now. This is a kennel and her own makeshift run. We have kept her near the coop in hopes of her seeing the chicks and being ok with them. The other one has taken to the babies. She will even let our EE snuggle in with her. So for us at least a new coop and run did not make Dolphin any less aggressive. We are hoping in the next week or so that her time out will make her not so aggressive. You sound like you have a great plan just know that you may have to adjust depending on the individual bird.