Having Trouble introducing new chicks

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Martingoff

In the Brooder
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May 19, 2020
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Hi All,
I am new to the community, but have raised chickens for about 6 years. I have only had one experience until now of introducing a new chicken to the flock. I have 4 birds,one is 7, one is 3+ and two new ones are 11 weeks. I put the young ones in the yard in a cage and allowed the older ones to see them etc. The last week I put the new ones in the yard and stood guard. Things were fine until my 3 yr old decided to run over and peck the two young ones.I have since put them in the coop. They huddle on the floor, peeping away in fear. They will not perch. In the morning the big ones go out into the yard, the small ones stay in the coop or come down to the run. I have to place them in the coop at night as they huddle away from the big birds as they start to come in from the yard.Any suggestions on getting these young ones out of their total fear?
 
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It sounds like you are doing everything right. You gave them time to meet while in the separate pens, they are now sleeping together. I have integrated chicks at least 6 times in my life and to me every experience is different. I feel like in my case these things ring true:
1) it goes easier if you add more baby hens in ( 4 or more) than it does if you only add 2 to a bigger flock.
2) This year I have 8 babies, that are not added yet- but I also have 2 Jersey Giants that I have already added - I am having the same experience you are. The Jersey's grew up in the pen right beside the big hens ( I have a large pen that I pull wire across to make two separate pens) They saw each other every day and even touched beaks or stood beside each other eating. Now that they are together even though they are about the same size the Jersey Giants will not have anything to do with the big girls. They stay completely away and will not flock with them. The one time they will get beside the big hens - is when I feed corn, so I do that everyday to help them come together.
3) One of my Jersey Giants ended up being a boy - I think that has a lot to do with it> He seems to keep his sister completely to himself.
4) So- it may be that the separation-integration issues this time is due to the fact that one is a Rooster.
5) I did go ahead and make the two Jersey Giants a separate bar to roost on at night, I had to add more space anyway in order to eventually add the 6 babies- so that solved the roosting problem. The Jersey's sleep on the new roost bar.
6) They will eventually get it worked out
 

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