help integrating flock

[jstiles8]

Hello was wondering if anybody had any information I just integrated my bantams and regular sized chicken after the quarantine process. Today is there second day together but the bantams will not leave the roost. The bigger chickens chase them as soon as they come down then they fly right back up. I am worried they are not drinking or eating is this normal behavior just after imtergrating? Thanks for any help!
2 Barred Rock hens
2golden comet hens 1 rooster
4 bramah bantams

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sounds like your bantams are les mature than the others. More mature chickens outrank less mature chickens in the pecking order and tend to be fairly brutal to them. Size is not as important as maturity. The more mature don’t have to be all that brutal. They still intimidate the less mature just based on personality. It is to be expected that the immature form a separate sub-flock and try to avoid the older ones as much as they can. When the older are in the run, the younger are in the coop. When they are all locked in the coop the older are on the floor and the younger are on the roosts. Things like that. The more room you can give them the better it normally goes but it sounds like your integration is going pretty well.

If you can provide separate feeding and watering stations. A form of intimidation is to keep the younger away from the food or water. Spreading food and water out makes it easier for the immature to eat and drink.