Can we put four new 10 months olds with our 9 year old chicken?

[Lisa Helps]

We had four chickens. Then three. Then two. Now one. They've mostly died of old age. We have one left and we worry that she will be lonely. We have two options:

1. We are able to get four 10 month old chickens this weekend but we wonder about how they will treat her. She has a limp but is otherwise healthy. And she's quite large.

2. Five weeks from now we could get four 2 month old chickens. Would this be better? As in because the chickens are younger she'd be sure to be the boss?

We welcome any advice.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Poor girl. I think she may be able to hold her ground with the older chickens. Give her those friends sooner rather than later. Anything is better than being lonely!

 

[Perris]

hello @Lisa Helps ! welcome to BYC Your hens are lucky to have you - few make it to that ripe age Can you give her a mirror for some company until the youngsters arrive if you go for the latter option? I think as you do that younger would be better for her if she can manage a month with just you and her reflection for company

 

[aart]

It's hard to say how she'll react.
Might depend on how much space you have..amongst many other things.

Here's some tips and links about adding/integrating new birds.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock


Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know what I'd do in your situation. Either one could work without issues, either could be a problem. How much room you have could make a difference. I find that size is not all that important a criteria in how they interact, maturity is. Often bantams can dominate full sized fowl, especially females though occasionally a bantam rooster can dominate a full sized fowl rooster.

The risk with the 10 month olds is that they may dominate the old hen and be violent toward her. She may still have the spirit to dominate them. Though technically they are still called pullets they have probably been laying eggs for a while and should act really mature. I assume they are all female? Whether the four are a flock on their own now but especially if they are just a part of another flock, they will set up a new pecking order when you move them to your facilities. That may go extremely peacefully, there could be some fighting. That fighting could involve the old hen or may just be between the pullets. There is no way to tell ahead of time. She may dominate them, one of them may become flock master.

The risks with the 2-month-old chicks is in two parts. The old hen may attack the chicks and harm or kill them. They may get along great. You just don't know how it will go but you will have an integration to manage. Lots of us do that all the time so you can manage it, but what your facilities look like will have a lot to do with that.

Eventually those chicks will mature and force their way into the pecking order. This may or may not involve fighting and bullying. Quite often this process goes so smoothly you don't even notice but sometimes it can get violent. If you raised your original four from chicks you've already been through it.

I don't know which way I'd try, but either can work well.