Did I make a mistake?? :(

[kayjk27]

I am worried that I made a poor decision to trade half of my small flock.

I had three 14 week light Brahmas (2 cockerels and 1 pullet) and one 12 week black austrolorp pullet. My austrolorp is a crossbeak with 1 eye and doesn't travel too far from the run even though they have free run of multiple acres.

I just re-homed my Brahma pullet and smaller cockerel (they were always together so I didn't want to re-home the cockerel alone). In exchange for the brahmas I got two 8 week cochins and one 8 week Welsummer. I was originally told they were 10 weeks...but they are tiny and I'm questioning if they are even 8 weeks...

Anyways. I'm really worried that my Brahma cockerel I kept is going to get lonely (and potentially aggressive) since I just took away his "flock" and his replacement "flock" are so much smaller than him and won't even leave the run yet. I might even set up a brooder for them because the cochins are still fluffy (not fully feathered yet) and I don't know if my older birds will be okay with them roosting with them in the coop tonight... I just don't know what to do.

 

[Mama Farley]

There will probably be some hen pecking going on. I’m not an expert but have had chickens for over a year. I’ve introduced a few. They will figure it out. I’ve physically put chicks in several nights in a row until it was figured out and I’ve also let them figure it out. No birds have died in the process.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Chickens grow fast. If your Roo is aggressive keep them separated which you should do in the very beginning anyways. If you could make a pen within the pen to where they can see each other yet be safe that would be good. Within a month they will be so much larger. I don’t know the temperament of your rooster if he was kind to your other hens then it should be okay after they have a slow introduction. Keep a eye on them. Don’t leave them together unsupervised until you know they’ve accepted each other. Good luck

 

[Perris]

don't beat yourself up about it; whether right or wrong you can't turn the clock back, you will learn a lot from all this and become a better chicken-keeper as a result - we learn nothing when everything's swimming along nicely

 

[aart]

I don't think you made a mistake, any time you can trade males for females is a great deal.

He will adjust, lonely isn't the right word, he may get ticked off abut these 'strangers' in his space tho......any change in the flock can cause some upheaval at first, but they get over it pretty quick. He's about to enter the hormone surge stage(3-4months) tho brahma's tend to mature a bit later than other breeds, then he may start to dominate and mate....possibly in a an aggressive way. That would have happened anyway.

I'm guessing you've never done an integration before?
I'd keep the new birds separated by wire for now.
Here's some tips on.....
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

 

[keesmom]

In exchange for the brahmas I got two 8 week cochins and one 8 week Welsummer. I was originally told they were 10 weeks...but they are tiny and I'm questioning if they are even 8 weeks...
View attachment 1536133

Can you get another picture of the barred chick? Is the barring that light in person?

 

[kayjk27]

Can you get another picture of the barred chick? Is the barring that light in person?

 

[Firefoot]

I don't have any advice but barred male birds have a double white bar making them appear lighter, as opposed to females who have a single white and single black bar making them appear darker. It really looks like that is double white barring, which would mean another roo :/ Just keep an eye on it!

And in the meantime, all you can do is manage your birds til they're big enough to integrate. You got some good advice above about that.

 

[keesmom]

View attachment 1537158 View attachment 1537159

The faint barring has me thinking it may be a cockerel. No comb development yet but Cochins are slow to mature.

 

[chickens really]

Bantams..?
Cochins come in Bantam too...