Best way to introduce New Pullets to the crew

naught

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I have 5, 16 week old pullets/hens, and just got 2, 8 week old pullets.......how do I prevent Hen pecking?
Right now I have them blocked off from rest of flock but part of the section is chicken wire so the others can see them regularly etc. What else can I do? And how long before I let them run free with the rest?
thanks y'all!
 
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We've never had a problem with introducing new chickens but we also have three acres of free range space which goes a long way in preventing territorial problems. You are off to a great start. Allowing them to see one another for a couple days and then letting them mingle is the best way to go. They are so young you should have too much trouble. If you can put a couple newbies in the coop at night they usually hardly notice/care. Just do a couple at a time and monitor for problems..you should be just fine.
 
I'm in the same boat. I have 6 Easter Eggers, one being a rooster, but he's a sweetie. He's not aggressive at all. I have my 7 week old pullets and one meat rooster in the run, fenced off with chicken wire and a wooden wall on the other side and on the roof to protect them from the wind. They get to see each other everyday, but not get close. The hens and rooster seem to not care at all that the pullets are in their run. The wall is only 4 feet high and the hens do go in with the pullets occasionally, but haven't touched them. All my hens are very sweet and I don't think I'll have many problems. I'm still going to let them mingle every once in a while and supervise them, because I don't completely trust the rooster, mainly because he's so big compared to them.
I personally think the rooster is excited to have more ladies around! Lol
 
I let my EE's see my older RSL hens from age 8 weeks to 16 weeks.Plastic fencing seperated them. When the EE's were ready to go on layer pellets I added them into the coop at night.
 
You have quite a challenge with all the different ages and sizes. The hardest will be integrating the small ones, and they'll need to have cover or somewhere to run when chased by the older chickens. Something as simple as a bushy branch tossed into the run can be a life saver for a tyke who needs to hide under something so a big bully can't reach her.

What I do is a bit more work, but it's worked wonderfully for me over time. I create a "panic room" with entry holes just large enough for the youngsters to squeeze through and not the older ones. They can run into this special enclosure, and it can be as simple as a dog crate, to be safe from bullies.

I have a run that is broken up into several smaller pens, and I can close these off when I want or leave them all open so the flock wanders freely through them all. I install smaller pop holes wherever there is a place where a chick might get boxed in or cornered by an older hen. It's like watching a cartoon when a larger hen is chasing a chick and ends up crashing into the fence in hot pursuit of a chick who has learned to navigate all the small pop holes.

So that all the new comers get enough to eat, it's extremely important to have lots of extra feeders because the older ones will zealously chase them away from the feeders. This is why a panic room works so well for the smalls. Their food and water is inside and they know they can eat and drink in there and still be safe.
 
You have quite a challenge with all the different ages and sizes. The hardest will be integrating the small ones, and they'll need to have cover or somewhere to run when chased by the older chickens. Something as simple as a bushy branch tossed into the run can be a life saver for a tyke who needs to hide under something so a big bully can't reach her.

What I do is a bit more work, but it's worked wonderfully for me over time. I create a "panic room" with entry holes just large enough for the youngsters to squeeze through and not the older ones. They can run into this special enclosure, and it can be as simple as a dog crate, to be safe from bullies. 

I have a run that is broken up into several smaller pens, and I can close these off when I want or leave them all open so the flock wanders freely through them all. I install smaller pop holes wherever there is a place where a chick might get boxed in or cornered by an older hen. It's like watching a cartoon when a larger hen is chasing a chick and ends up crashing into the fence in hot pursuit of a chick who has learned to navigate all the small pop holes. 

So that all the new comers get enough to eat, it's extremely important to have lots of extra feeders because the older ones will zealously chase them away from the feeders. This is why a panic room works so well for the smalls. Their food and water is inside and they know they can eat and drink in there and still be safe.


That's a really good idea! I would have never thought of that
 

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