Formal introductions for the new girls

[Ajoy1955]

I am about to mix the new pullets with the original three hens, they have been sharing a common fence area for five weeks now. I am not a big fan of placing newbies in the coop at night, I feel like that could cause horrible stress in the daylight hours. So with that being said, when should I open the gate to mix the flocks, morning or in the late afternoon? After they have had sufficient time to get the pecking order in place, maybe two to three days, then I will move the new girls at night.. thanks for all and any advice

 

[aart]

Is the common fence part of a run and coop that the new girls have been living in for 5 weeks...that is adjacent to the older girls run and coop??
Pics that show both areas would help here.

How many birds in each group?
How old are they all?
How big are the coops and runs?

Here are 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/

 

[Ajoy1955]

Is the common fence part of a run and coop that the new girls have been living in for 5 weeks...that is adjacent to the older girls run and coop??
Pics that show both areas would help here.

How many birds in each group?
How old are they all?
How big are the coops and runs?

Here are 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/

Thanks for all your info, but I have already done all this…my hens are 23 months old and the pullets are 18 weeks old, could you please expound on my question, better to add in the morning or afternoon???

 

[aart]

could you please expound on my question, better to add in the morning or afternoon???

Whenever you can keep an eye on things.