Flock integration question

[TonyBYC]

Our flock is down to just two hens (one Brahma, one Wyandotte, both 3.5 month old) due to 3 (!) roosters and some predator losses. So we are adding 4 new pullets that are only slightly younger at 8-10 weeks, probably Buff Orpingtons and/or RI Reds.

The coop (25 sqf) has be accessed from two sides: chicken door entrance from the run and large door to outside for cleaning. I plan to temporarily install chicken wire in the middle, give the covered run to the new birds and let the old birds direct to the outside to free range. I don’t want to split the run as it is too much hassle.

With this setup and small age difference, would 1-2 weeks be enough for them to get acquainted and minimize the pecking fights? We have no more roosters, the Brahma is a big bird but it will be outnumbered…

Any other suggestions of how to keep this smooth? Add more roosting bars perhaps? We only have one now.

 

[DobieLover]

Our flock is down to just two hens (one Brahma, one Wyandotte, both 3.5 month old) due to 3 (!) roosters and some predator losses. So we are adding 4 new pullets that are only slightly younger at 8-10 weeks, probably Buff Orpingtons and/or RI Reds.

The coop (25 sqf) has be accessed from two sides: chicken door entrance from the run and large door to outside for cleaning. I plan to temporarily install chicken wire in the middle, give the covered run to the new birds and let the old birds direct to the outside to free range. I don’t want to split the run as it is too much hassle.

With this setup and small age difference, would 1-2 weeks be enough for them to get acquainted and minimize the pecking fights? We have no more roosters, the Brahma is a big bird but it will be outnumbered…

Any other suggestions of how to keep this smooth? Add more roosting bars perhaps? We only have one now.

Much will depend on the birds. It sounds like a good plan. Did you get the new pullets from the same place as the older pullets? If not, you really should quarantine.

It isn't so much the number of roosts you have as the linear feet of roost space. For 6 birds you want to target 6 feet. More if you can because of the Brahma.

 

[TonyBYC]

Much will depend on the birds. It sounds like a good plan. Did you get the new pullets from the same place as the older pullets? If not, you really should quarantine.

It isn't so much the number of roosts you have as the linear feet of roost space. For 6 birds you want to target 6 feet. More if you can because of the Brahma.

Thanks for the suggestions. The new birds are not from the same place but they are from an established hatchery.

 

[aart]

Small age difference won't matter.
Coop is bare minimum for 6 birds, and will be tough for integration(where extra space eases issues).
Yes to another roost, if it will fit.
How big is your run?
Some pics of coop and run, inside and out, would help here.


Here's some tips about....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[TonyBYC]

Thanks! Run is about 200 sqf, 17x12. Some photos attached. The coop is part of a storage shed .

 

[Ridgerunner]

Our flock is down to just two hens (one Brahma, one Wyandotte, both 3.5 month old) due to 3 (!) roosters and some predator losses. So we are adding 4 new pullets that are only slightly younger at 8-10 weeks, probably Buff Orpingtons and/or RI Reds.

So roughly a month difference in age. Sometimes integration goes so smoothly you wonder what all the fuss was about, whether they are all the same age or there are age differences. Sometimes even if they are the same age it is a real mess, whether they are all mature or all the same immature age. There are a lot of things that influence it like how much room you have, the quality of that room, and the personality of the individual chickens. In spite of a lot you read on here it can be as easy as putting them together or trying that can be a disaster.

I plan to temporarily install chicken wire in the middle, give the covered run to the new birds and let the old birds direct to the outside to free range.

Before I say anything else, I think this is an excellent plan. It gives you a lot of flexibility to react to what you see.

With this setup and small age difference, would 1-2 weeks be enough for them to get acquainted and minimize the pecking fights?

Maybe, maybe not. It's not just about them getting acquainted. Their individual personality has a lot to do with how they react. Sometimes they can mingle without any real issues. Sometimes one or more will attack the others, even if they are the same size or age. What I usually see is that they form different sub-flocks based on maturity and avoid each other. I may have one group of adults, one group of 15 week olds, and another group of 6 week olds, all sharing a coop and run but each staying in their own group day and night. My coop is 8' x 12' and my outside area is over 3,000 square feet, quite a bit different from your set-up. Sometimes they may mingle quite a bit, often not at all. Again, I think it is a good plan but whether it will work or not the first time. I don't know.

Any other suggestions of how to keep this smooth? Add more roosting bars perhaps? We only have one now.

I see that you meet the typical suggestions for minimum space in the coop, the run, and probably roost space. Those numbers are sort of based on a fully integrated flock, integration often needs additional room. I find that quality is usually more important than "magic" numbers like that. It can really help if you can break line-of-sight. A totally bare run (or coop) where they can see each other is of lower quality than one where they can get under, behind, or over something that breaks line-of-sight. Chickens can be bullies and more mature ones are more prone to bullying younger chickens. If that is happening, having widely separated and preferably hidden feeding and watering stations can help.

My brooder-raised chicks often don't start to roost until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. Some start earlier, some later, but 10 to 12 weeks is pretty typical. That's when there are no older ones around. My older ones tend to bully the most as they are settling down to sleep so the younger ones usually quickly learn to not try to sleep on the main roosts with the adults. My 6-week-olds do not sleep with the 15-week-olds. I don't care where mine sleep as long as it is somewhere predator proof and not in a nest. My 8x12 coop has enough clutter that they can all sleep away from each other. To me linear feet of roost isn't very important during integration. To me the quality question is can they find a place to sleep where the older ones aren't going to beat them up? If the younger ones are sleeping on the coop floor and no one is getting injured I'm happy. If the older sleep on one end of the roost and the younger sleep on the far end I'm happy. Often when I'm integrating younger ones when I go down there to open the pop door the younger ones are on the main roosts and the adults are on the coop floor. Or maybe the younger are hiding under my nests, that is a pretty tight spot where they can avoid the older ones.

My first suggestion is to try what you planned. See how it goes. Be flexible and base what you do next on what you see. Hopefully it will go so smoothly you can ignore everything I said. It often does. But if you have issues, come back on here so maybe we can offer suggestions. At least let us know how it worked. It's good to hear success stories.