Concerns on adding new members

[catchick247]

Hey guys, hope all is well in your flocks!
Recently, I had a predator of some sort kill my JG pullet, which brought my flock down to a head count of five sadly! So I've been searching around and I've settled on a pair of bantams, but they're already laying. I don't want to bring these ladies into my coop if they'll be bullied (or vice versa) by my pullets. All five are the same age, I bought them back in March, one of them is a roo (haven't figured out if he's a blessing or a curse). Could I have any problems with them? Ideally I'd only take one bantam, but I thought she might need a partner to help distribute the tension.

 

[Den in Penn]

Since the bantams are laying they should be mature enough to handle the pullets. Right now I would think there is no size advantage to your pullets. You are right that two would make the integration easier.

 

[RonP]

Your numbers are pretty good.

Establishing 2 new mature members into an existing flock of 5 immature, they should settle in quickly.

More trouble if the numbers were reversed.

 

[catchick247]

Thank you both for your advice. Now the question is how I would integrate them. I've been told to take my roo out for the night and throw the newbies in while the others are sleeping?

 

[Den in Penn]

Since the cockerel is just that, young and still inexperienced. just leave him in for the integration. I also would introduce them through the wire, by putting them in a cage or partitioned part of the run for a few days so they can get to know each other before they can physically interact.

 

[catchick247]

Since the cockerel is just that, young and still inexperienced. just leave him in for the integration.  I also would introduce them through the wire, by putting them in a cage or partitioned part of the run for a few days so they can get to know each other before they can physically interact.

That's another problem; they're free range.
Instead of bantams I've settled on a pair of white Plymouth rocks, so they should be able to hold their ground, right?

 

[Den in Penn]

Are the White Rocks laying? If so everything is still much the same. If they are the same age it will go well also. Since you free range it should go better, then more space they have the better it goes. If you can find something like a dog crate to use as temporary housing during the through the wire period. it will work better IMO then just throwing them together.

 

[catchick247]

Are the White Rocks laying?  If so everything is still much the same.  If they are the same age it will go well also. Since you free range it should go better, then more space they have the better it goes.  If you can find something like a dog crate to use as temporary housing during the through the wire period. it will work better IMO then just throwing them together.

I believe they are, yes. I do have a dog crate that is plenty big (Great Dane) so that should be suitable. Do I lock the rocks in the garage? My coop is about as big as a large, roomy dog house. I would like to get the newbies in there ASAP because they are laying, but however long it takes is how long it takes. When do I know they've accepted eachother?

 

[aart]

Maybe let the flock out to range then close the newbies in the coop for the day(or part of the day) so they can home to it, and put them in the dog crate someplace safe at night. Do that for a few days, then let the newbies out to range with the flock.

Lots of different ways to do an integration.
advanced search>titles only>integration

 

[catchick247]

Maybe let the flock out to range then close the newbies in the coop for the day(or part of the day) so they can home to it, and put them in the dog crate someplace safe at night. Do that for a few days, then let the newbies out to range with the flock.

Lots of different ways to do an integration.
advanced search>titles only>integration

I actually bought them today at about 8 o'clock pm. Around here it's been getting dark around 8:30, so I really had no other option but to put newbies in the coop. To my surprise, they were very tranquil. Both my pullets and the rocks gave each other their space. I really wanted them in the coop because they needed a place to lay their eggs. I'm hoping they sort out their boundaries over night, but I know nothing ever comes that easy. I am planning on setting up temporary coop # 2 tomorrow during the day, I'll be outside so I can watch how they interact with each other.

Another concern of mine: I have two other neighbors whom both have a flock of their own (one is about four, the other is about 16, I believe) both of which are free range. My pullets have been outside for almost a month, yet they haven't have seemed to have a "run in" with the other flocks yet. I'm concerned because I know my babies have no match for 16 fully grown spec. sussexs, is there anything I can do to try and prevent any gang ups?