another "introduction" question.

[camic]

I have read some GREAT information!!! so most of my questions have already been answered but...

I have 2 older chickens (hatched early april) and 6 younger (hatched early may) BIG run and coop. My plan was to put the baby group out first into the run and THEN the big girls. however, my spouse had different ideas and let the big girls out first. I took 2 of my babies out yesterday to "hang" with the big girls. first in a dog run and then supervised. things were going so well that I left them. well... the older white leghorn has been aggressive but not murderous. My 12 yo couldn't stand to see her babies be abused so she sat out in the coop for hours yesterday to protect the babies How long does the introduction phase last? I penned the little chickens into the coop in a wire dog crate so that they could sleep in the coop but not be abused

I kept the auricanas and banty silkie babies in the little coop/run because the silkies need body heat and are LITTLE things... planning on keeping the banties seperate and introducing the auricanas back into the flock in about 2 weeks when the weather is more predictable.

older girls are white leghorn and black sexlink. 2 newbie babies are buff orpingtons and then the auricanas and silkies.

I don't think I need to quarantine because they have all shared the same germs and I got them all from the same hatchery. I just need a little time frame on how long the big girls will keep being bratty to the little ones... My poor daughter can't live in the coop (but it did get her out of chores yesterday so maybe she has ulterior motives... hmmmm...)

thx

 

[sumi]

It's hard to say how long it will take them to reestablish their pecking order and except the "intruders". It could take a day or a week, maybe longer. It's better to leave them to it and not to intervene unless the bullying gets out of hand and someone gets hurt.

 

[thepouts]

It took 2 days for my new silkies to be accepted. My roos come inside of a night anyway and during the day I let one set free range and left the others in the run.

My roo is the boss and pecks any new additions but it doesn't last long until they all settle down.

 

[camic]

oh good I think things will go well. but I do not think my silkies will ever be integrated, they are TINY I will try to keep the 12 year old occupied today and let things work themselves out.