Barred rock Integration help!

[Afmustang21]

I have a small flock of 3 hens, all egg layers and about 24 weeks old. They recently lost their Cockrel/Rooster to a bobcat 3 or so weeks ago and mourned for a few days but seem to have moved on and I have fortified the coop and run to prevent any further losses.

Today I picked up a 10 week old pullet and a 10 week old cockrel to add to the flock and get them up to 5 strong. I understand the quarantine time and then plan on putting a small fenced run alongside the current one so they can get some face time and get acquainted. My concern is, how do you foresee the pecking order playing out? I dont want the new pullett to get beat down and I dont want my cockrell to lose his spirits or fall in line behind a hen just because hes younger..

Any advice on best practices? Anything breed specific that make barred rocks easier or harder to integrate? I'm new to this, we bought 10 acres earlier this year and hit the ground running, alot of trial and error but we love our chickens and the ones we've raised since birth are happy and healthy so I think we are doing something right lol. Thanks everyone!

 

[aart]

Lots of space is key.
How big, in feet by feet, is your coop and run?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Most breeds are about the same.
Any new birds will be lower on the pecking order.

BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Here's some tips about....
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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/