Breakaway flock

[boynechick]

I have an established flock of 4 hens--2 buff orpingtons, a silver phoenix, and an easter egger. I slowly introduced two new birds--ISA Brown and Silver Laced Wyandotte. These new girls are 4 months old now and outsizing the silver phoenix. Everyone has established the pecking order, with the new birds on the bottom, but they roost happily at night and pecking is at a minimum.

Still, I can't integrate these birds. The new ladies don't like to be near the established flock. Even for treats, they stay away if the older birds are there. The result is one happy flock of birds that I can manage well, and two outliers who view me and the other birds as jerks. I have tried handling them more (aka chicken rape to them!) and I have fed them treats on their own out of my hand.

Can anyone help? I'd like to have a whole flock again!

Thanks.

 

[Chick Charm]

Split flocks are typical in my book. I have 3 separate flocks as we speak this year. 1 flock of 8 @16 week old. 1 flock of 4 @ 7 weeks old. 1 flock of 5 at 4 weeks old. Now in the past I have had a nice flock only when all the chickens were the same age and brooded together. I always have free ranged and this contributes to the flocks going their separate ways.

Wish ya the best.

 

[centrarchid]

I have sub-flocks as well. Sometimes desired, sometimes not. To force combining of birds into a single flock, confine them together for a few days. If younger birds are being picked on by hens with a rooster, then remove hens for a few days so rooster bonds with younger birds. Rooster will then suppress aggression by hens when they are re-integrated.

 

[boynechick]

Thanks! I am trying to mix up members of the two flocks to see how that works.