Combining chickens

[tribemama]

We have four 9 week old pullets and two 2 year old hens. They had been in separate locations and a week ago we put them where they could see each other through the wires, but not touch. We then slowly began integrating them with the hens going into the run with the pullets. One hen was assertive with the little ones, the other didn't seem to care. Yesterday we finally put them in together and during the day the pullets cowered a lot in the corner or they stayed in the coop. All of them slept together in the coop and then today the hens came down but the pullets stayed up until I came in. I made sure they could eat and drink and then they again went to the coop. Is this somewhat normal? The one hen is certainly chasing them a bit, but isn't hurting the pullets, will they eventually all settle down. I just want the little ones to be able to eat and drink when they want.

Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

The older hens outrank the young ones in the pecking order. Mature chickens always outrank immature chickens. When a lower-ranking chicken invades the personal space of the higher-ranking, it is acceptable in chicken society for the higher to give the lower a peck or worse to enforce that pecking order rank. As you have seen it does not happen all the time and usually it is not all that vicious, but the immature quickly learn to avoid the older chickens. What you are seeing is perfectly normal and expected behavior. They are avoiding.

What can you do? Give them as much room as you can so they can avoid. I don’t know how big your coop and run are but those pullets still have some growing to do. Having enough room is really important, especially when you are integrating. That’s something to watch. Have separate feeding and watering stations so the pullets don’t have to confront the older hens for nourishment. You can help them avoid conflict that way.

It sounds like you are doing OK. The young ones will basically form a sub-flock until they mature enough to force their way into the pecking order, then they will be one flock. The young may still spend some time separate but mine normally don’t that much. When that happens you may see some conflict but most of the time I hardly notice it going on. I have lots of room and I’m sure that helps. Even not knowing how much room you have you will probably be OK when this happens.

When will this happen? Different chickens mature at different speeds but with mine it’s normally about the time they start to lay. That’s still a few months off for you.

I’ll say it again. What you are seeing is perfectly normal and a great position to be in. Your integration worked but now they need to work out the pecking order. That will happen when they mature enough

 

[azygous]

Ridgerunner nailed it. I have nothing to add to it.

Except for in the future if you want to make integration go a lot quicker and smoother, you could consider brooding outside with the adults so that the chicks are accepted into the flock from the very first.

I've been doing it this way this year for the first time and it's been a smashing success. I utilize the MHP in the brooder system (see the thread on Raising Baby Chicks forum) and by the time the chicks are three weeks old, chick-size portals are opened into the rest of the run and the chicks begin to mingle with the adults.

Learning the pecking order while this small is an advantage since the adults are less threatened by the chicks and the chicks are fast and nimble at evading any bullies. By four weeks, the chicks move into the coop with the adults, and mine are already roosting at less than four weeks of age, also going into the coop at night on their own.

This is the second batch of chicks I've raised this way, and the difference from inside/brooder-raised chicks in level of self confidence and self reliance is stunning.

 

[Blooie]

Amen and Amen, azygous! Your portal system will most definitely be used the next time I raise chicks.

Ridgerunner is so right - having more than one feeding station will assure that your chicks get plenty to eat and drink. It sounds like yours are quite normal at this stage of integration.