Flock integration

[Chicks Creek]

In your experience how long does integration take? I've got 5 pullets hatched between May 20 - June 24 that I'm integrating into my flock of 6 laying hens who were born around April 2. They've all been near each other all summer separated only by a fence so they could see each other. They have also had supervised free ranging time all together. Last night I put the younger ones in a wire crate inside the coop because the big girls still peck at them. For the most part they're about the same size except one Lavorp who has barely grown (a discussion for another post).

How long before I trust the big girls to not beat up our babies? Any other tricks I should be trying?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What do your facilities look like? How big (in feet) is your coop? You mention free range. If you have a run, how big is it (in feet). Basically what are you working with?

My pullets avoid the adults until they start to lay. If they get too close to the adults they are likely to get pecked or worse so they quickly learn to keep their distance. Once they start to lay they are accepted in the pecking order and can mingle with the adults. During the day it's like I have two separate flocks. At night, they sleep separately.

My goal during integration is not that they all eat and sleep together as a group. It is simply that no one gets hurt. All of that "one big flock" stuff will come as they mature. But I have facilities big enough that they can stay separated until they don't need to.

I've had chicks raised by a broody hen and weaned at 3 weeks of age manage themselves. They avoid the rest of the flock day and night. I raise my brooder raised chicks in a brooder in the coop until they are 5 weeks old and then let them loose. They quickly learn to avoid the adults. When the pullets start to lay they become one flock. Each flock can be different but usually it is no problem.

You do not get any guarantees with chickens and their behaviors. Anything can happen. I find with integration, having enough space makes a lot of difference. If your space is tight there are a few tricks people use to make it easier. That's why I'm interested in what you are working with.

Good luck!

 

[thegreencoop]

I'm curious - I have 2 "homegrown" hens and am taking on a flock of 9 from a friend. I'm a little concerned how it will go. I like the idea of letting them all free range a bit for more space (coop is ~8x8, run is 8x20), but if one of the new ones gets into the woods, I have little hope of recovering it. How quickly do they develop a sense of "this is home and where I sleep now"?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How quickly do they develop a sense of "this is home and where I sleep now"?

It varies, at least when I try to move them from one coop to another. With some it can be overnight, others a week or more. You don't get guarantees with living animals but I'd try to find a way to house them in the run if not the coop for at least a week before I let them out to that woods.

 

[WY2PEASRANCH]

I know the OP was from some time ago, but I wanted to ask a few questions in regards to this subject. I have 5 hens/1 roo about a year old, as my OG flock. Moved 3 chicks now 3 months old out with them. They were together, but separated for well over a month before I let them be together. I did try the throw them all in at night thing and that was fine until the morning where the older girls def went after the younger ones. I have 2 separate coops, connected by several fully fenced runs so there is lots of space (1 run is 10' x 30' and 2 other are 10' x 14') Multiple water and food options...

A few issues:
1. When the OG flock is in the coop that the 3 months olds stay in, the 3-month-olds will stay up high and won't come down until the hens are gone. The older hens do still chase them, even though they have been together for a few weeks now. So they dont get to eat and drink normally...

Is there anything I should do about this or will it get better with time?

2.They sleep in separate coops, and the 3 months won't leave their coop, they won't go outside unless forced.

Will this even out in time or should I force the 3-month-olds outside? I feel they are just scared of the unknown and the chance of the bigger girls being out there.

Thanks all-

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!!

Sounds normal. When I integrate chicks they form a sub-flock, avoid the adults until the pullets start laying. Then they are accepted into the pecking order. Until then if they approach the adults or the adults approach them they are likely to get pecked or worse.

I try to give them as much room as I can, day or night. I try to not force them to be together in a small area and provide separated food and water spots so they can eat without being bullied.

My goal during integration is that no one gets hurt. All that other togetherness stuff will come later.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

Add a bunch of clutter to the run. Add things like pallets set up like mini walls, add roosts, add ladders, saw horses, chairs, old tables, things birds can get on top of or behind and out of sight. Put so much stuff in there, that it is difficult for humans to walk around.

Add multiple feeders is good, but make sure you set them up so that while eating at one spot, they cannot be seen by a bird eating at another spot.

Then lock your hens out of the run, lock your young birds in the run for the day. Let them explore and gain some territorial rights without being chased for their lives. Let the old ones in as close to dark as you dare.

That and 4 weeks when they start to lay, will work most of this out.

MRs K

 

[WY2PEASRANCH]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!!

Sounds normal. When I integrate chicks they form a sub-flock, avoid the adults until the pullets start laying. Then they are accepted into the pecking order. Until then if they approach the adults or the adults approach them they are likely to get pecked or worse.

I try to give them as much room as I can, day or night. I try to not force them to be together in a small area and provide separated food and water spots so they can eat without being bullied.

My goal during integration is that no one gets hurt. All that other togetherness stuff will come later.

Good luck!

Thank you for the confirmation that things sound norma, makes me feel better--

Should I do anything to get the 3-month-olds out of their coop.. to explore the outdoor runs? Right now they have less room because they refuse to move out of the coop. The coop is quite large, with multiple rooms to be in but there is so much more room outside in the runs.

The picture is of the newer larger coop which is about 14' x 20', where the 3 months old sleep at night but the hens come in and out during the day. Right now its all closed up due to snow/winds

 

[Ridgerunner]

Should I do anything to get the 3-month-olds out of their coop.

Are they eating and drinking OK? Are they getting hurt? Why do you want to change things? I try to leave mine alone and let them be chickens.

 

[WY2PEASRANCH]

Are they eating and drinking OK? Are they getting hurt? Why do you want to change things? I try to leave mine alone and let them be chickens.

Yes, they are able to eat and drink when the big hens are not in their coop, when the big hens are in their coop the littles tend to jump up high and just wait it out. If they would go outside, they would have more access to water/feeders and space away from the big hens. They just have never left the coop, they don't know what they are missing - lol