Flocks not integrating

[Thereschs]

Help, my original flock of five 3.5 year old eastereggers will not let the new flock of 4 integrate. We did all the methods I've read about. They shared the large outdoor space separated by chicken wire for over 2 months, we only provided treats at the fence line. I brought each older chicken to meet the new flock one by one. Then when we moved them over they were and are still like mean girls. They run them off from treats and even chase them out of the coop. Even the roosters that are part of the new group are afraid. They have had over 2 months living together to get along, but they still don't. There are tons of tifts and they all try to stay separated.

Now I've got another group of 4 girls that I'm trying to integrate. I've tried to bring the girls over in small durations and both flocks pick on them. I can't have 3 flocks of fighting hens. Why are they not trying to get along?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sometimes you have to let them sort it out as long as no one is seriously injured.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe it's about space, resources or not enough places to hide.
Can you post pics of your run and coop?
Maybe tell us more about your set up?
How many feed stations? Are there things to run behind? Things to get up on?

 

[Thereschs]

Maybe it's about space, resources or not enough places to hide.
Can you post pics of your run and coop?
Maybe tell us more about your set up?
How many feed stations? Are there things to run behind? Things to get up on?

We have a 50'x75' outdoor safe area. A 12' x25' covered run and a 2 story 8' x12' coop.

We have 2 water stations on the main side and 2 palet covers and a dustbathing tire with a cover.

There is tons of space for them all.

I do not seem to be able to upload pics. How strange.

 

[Thereschs]

Our setup

 

[Ridgerunner]

they all try to stay separated.

Sounds perfectly normal. Looks like you have a lot of room, which helps. In my flock, until the pullets start to lay they form a separate sub-flock. If they invade the personal space of the older chickens they are likely to get pecked or worse so they quickly learn to avoid the older ones.

What do I do? I have an outside area about 45 feet x 65 feet, a covered run 12 feet x 32 feet, and a single story 8x12 coop. I let them stay separated until they are ready to mingle. I don't force them to be together. Sometimes I have four groups of different ages that form four separate flocks.

During the day they are pretty well spread out. At night they find different places to sleep separately. I have several food and water stations well spread out so they can eat and drink without being bullied. Many people with less space use clutter to help hide the food and water stations so they can eat and drink in peace. Mine are spread so far apart that is not an issue.

When the pullets start laying they can eat and drink with the older ones. They usually move onto the main roosts. Cockerels are harder to talk about. They mature at different rates, you just don't know what they will do.

My goal in integration is that no one gets hurt. That's it. All that cuddly fuzzy one flock stuff can come later, when they mature.

 

[Thereschs]

Sounds perfectly normal. Looks like you have a lot of room, which helps. In my flock, until the pullets start to lay they form a separate sub-flock. If they invade the personal space of the older chickens they are likely to get pecked or worse so they quickly learn to avoid the older ones.

What do I do? I have an outside area about 45 feet x 65 feet, a covered run 12 feet x 32 feet, and a single story 8x12 coop. I let them stay separated until they are ready to mingle. I don't force them to be together. Sometimes I have four groups of different ages that form four separate flocks.

During the day they are pretty well spread out. At night they find different places to sleep separately. I have several food and water stations well spread out so they can eat and drink without being bullied. Many people with less space use clutter to help hide the food and water stations so they can eat and drink in peace. Mine are spread so far apart that is not an issue.

When the pullets start laying they can eat and drink with the older ones. They usually move onto the main roosts. Cockerels are harder to talk about. They mature at different rates, you just don't know what they will do.

My goal in integration is that no one gets hurt. That's it. All that cuddly fuzzy one flock stuff can come later, when they mature.

There's been no real injuries, however, my poor baby rooster was darn near plucked naked the first 3 weeks. He would block the others from getting pecked. He was protective even at his young age. He's one of the worse offenders at picking on the new babies though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

May I suggest adding a lot more "clutter" to their spaces?

Things to get behind and on help a lot in giving them ways to get out of the way of older birds.
Be creative. Adding old stumps or big branches from tree trimming gives them something to hop on and run behind. Pallets can be screwed together in a U shape to be stable or tied to T-posts so they don't fall over. I would suggest screwing boards on an tops that are open or being sure to have a solid piece as the top so no one falls between the slats.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

May I suggest adding a lot more "clutter" to their spaces?

Things to get behind and on help a lot in giving them ways to get out of the way of older birds.
Be creative. Adding old stumps or big branches from tree trimming gives them something to hop on and run behind. Pallets can be screwed together in a U shape to be stable or tied to T-posts so they don't fall over. I would suggest screwing boards on an tops that are open or being sure to have a solid piece as the top so no one falls between the slats.

Stumps cross crossed is what really helped our pullets. The older gals would chase them off and the pullets could hop up on the stumps. We also have two by fours in the corners crosswise as extra roost space for daytime to get out of the line of fire. Once the pullets started laying it all calmed down.