Blending two small flocks

[JillD413]

I have three laying hens and a group of four pullets. I have successfully introduced the two groups without any problems. However, they seem to function as two groups. Last night was the first night all the girls were together as one group in the big coop. It took a little while for everyone to settle down but there were no incidents of concern. This morning right at daybreak all the girls were out in the run. Again, there were no incidents of bullying. As soon as the door was opened each group maintained their flock clusters. I’m curious if the girls will ever blend as one group? Anyone have any ideas? It isn’t really a problem. I’m just curious what others have experienced.

 

[Wezdin]

Mine blended to an extent, but to this day after being blended for over a year i still have the same four hens wander around in their own group.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have a similar issue with a set of six and a set of five that I recently put together. They are finally eating and sleeping together but still hang out mostly in two groups. I heard that they will function more as a flock when they all are laying. Mine are all young birds that do not lay yet.

 

[Punkybrewster]

They will always be separate groups.
They eat and sleep together which is great but they only coexist.

If you let them free range, you will see them stay in their own little groups too. Its just the way it is.

The only way to make them all one group would be to blend them in the brooder at an early age.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I currently have 7 26 week olds and 4 11 week olds. They sleep together and eat and drink together but when out of the run free ranging they stay in their separate groups.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They'll merge about as much as they're going to once the pullets are all laying, but you'll probably find that they'll generally prefer being with their broodmates over the others.

 

[JillD413]

They'll merge about as much as they're going to once the pullets are all laying, but you'll probably find that they'll generally prefer being with their broodmates over the others.

Mine blended to an extent, but to this day after being blended for over a year i still have the same four hens wander around in their own group.

i have one hen that is the queen of the big girls. She was really grumpy to the pullets last night when all the girls when into the run right before time to get into the coop. She didn’t cause any real harm but she unsettled the group of pullets so much that they didn’t go into the coop. They chose to get as close to each other as possible on one of the perches in the run for the night. So the second evening was not as successful as their first night together. I have read that I could wait until dark and place each of the pullets on the perch inside the coop to help the laying hens adjust to the new girls. Have you ever used that approach? Or - should I simply let them work it out on their own with no intervention unless I see one of the hens hurting one of the pullets? The pullets are 16 weeks old so their size is close to that of the hens. Plus the pullets grew up in a nursery section of the run in full view of the hens from the beginning. I wonder if Sapphire (bossy britches) will settle down? Obviously, this is my first experience with adding new girls. What do you think?

 

[aart]

What do you think?

I would put them in the coop.
Best to have a separate and bit lower roost for the youngers.
How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics of coop (inside and out) and run would help here.

 

[JillD413]

i have one hen that is the queen of the big girls. She was really grumpy to the pullets last night when all the girls when into the run right before time to get into the coop. She didn’t cause any real harm but she unsettled the group of pullets so much that they didn’t go into the coop. They chose to get as close to each other as possible on one of the perches in the run for the night. So the second evening was not as successful as their first night together. I have read that I could wait until dark and place each of the pullets on the perch inside the coop to help the laying hens adjust to the new girls. Have you ever used that approach? Or - should I simply let them work it out on their own with no intervention unless I see one of the hens hurting one of the pullets? The pullets are 16 weeks old so their size is close to that of the hens. Plus the pullets grew up in a nursery section of the run in full view of the hens from the beginning. I wonder if Sapphire (bossy britches) will settle down? Obviously, this is my first experience with adding new girls. What do you think?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have read that I could wait until dark and place each of the pullets on the perch inside the coop to help the laying hens adjust to the new girls. Have you ever used that approach? Or - should I simply let them work it out on their own with no intervention unless I see one of the hens hurting one of the pullets?

How do you have your roost(s) set up? The hens are going to try and dominate the preferred roost spots, so having 2 or more bars (or extra space if only 1 bar) is helpful.

I don't intervene as long as the younger birds know how to roost. I've been finding one or two of my pullets on the lower roost lately but as long as everyone is roosting somewhere, it's fine by me.