Help with integrating pullets into flock

[KBGB]

Everyone has been so helpful so far so I was hoping for some advice on our integration process. Here is the background: We have six 8 week old girls and three 7 month girls - 1 buff orpington and two bantam Cochins that we got 3 months ago. The Orpington is the head hen and she is OBSESSED with food. We have a run and a coop. We do not and cannot free range. We moved the little ones into the coop divided by chicken wire three weeks ago. They sleep on the roosting bar every night side by side with the big girls with chicken wire in between. We also began moving them daily into a divided area of the run 2 weeks ago. So total 3 weeks so far they have been in this "see but don't touch" stage. The Orpington has been pecking thru the wire especially when there is food she gets really mad that she can't steal it. But really uneventful with everyone in their own space. This past week we have tried the panic door method we read about on here. We opened up their space with the panic door that only they can fit thru and watched closely so that we could intervene if needed. The little ones are very content in their space in the run and aren't interested in coming out, especially since when one ventures out they get pecked. Yesterday one of the Wyandotte's ventured out and my Orpington didn't just peck her. She jumped in the air like some kind of karate move and jumped on her back claws out ripping out feathers. I have to be honest, as a new chicken mom it was terrifying! The little one freaked out and couldn't figure out how to get back into the protected space so I finally helped her. The Orpington then took the feathers and ate them!
So my questions - Am I doing it too soon? Are they not ready and should I wait longer? I have to admit that moving them daily is getting to be a real headache as they don't want me to pick them up and move them and it has been a struggle. But I don't want to do it too soon if we need to wait longer. Most of the articles I read are about how to integrate them with free ranging and that is not an option for us. So I don't know how else to help ease this process.
Is my Orpington going to potentially need to be moved out? I have read about pecking, and we experienced that when the original three worked out their pecking order, but the jumping on the back was scary! And why did she eat the feathers?
Thank you so much for your help!

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

I do not have good advice but my orphington does that every time I try to incorporate my silkies. I’ve decided to rehome my silkies. I’ve heard removing the bully for a while helps to throw off the pecking order. And I feel that eight weeks is a good age for integration. Mine are four weeks and I’ve started to give them supervised time with the big girls. The strangest thing is the bully buff doesn’t touch my chicks. Just the silkies. I’ve even let a broody hen hatch chicks (not her eggs/outside eggs) and the buffs don’t bother them. One of my silkies actually started bullying a three day old chick I’m relatively new to chickens. It’s definitely a learning experience and I’m sure someone here will have good advice

 

[aart]

Is my Orpington going to potentially need to be moved out? I have read about pecking, and we experienced that when the original three worked out their pecking order, but the jumping on the back was scary! And why did she eat the feathers?

She sounds like a problem child, so yes, she may have to go.
Might be good to crate her away from the flock and see what happens.

Tho it's not unusual for them to eat feathers.....
...what all and how exactly are you feeding?

Can you keep the older birds in the run while the chick learn to navigate the panic doors?

 

[KBGB]

She sounds like a problem child, so yes, she may have to go.
Might be good to crate her away from the flock and see what happens.

Tho it's not unusual for them to eat feathers.....
...what all and how exactly are you feeding?

Can you keep the older birds in the run while the chick learn to navigate the panic doors?

The big girls are on Tucker Milling 16% Layer Pellets which I leave out during the day in a feeder that they have plenty of access to. They have free choice oyster shells. When we integrate I will have to put everyone on the grower feed. We are also using Tucker Milling for that. I will definitely try keeping the big girls in the coop and let the littles learn the panic door. That is a great idea.

 

[aart]

When we integrate I will have to put everyone on the grower feed.

I'd do that now.....might help calm down the crazy one.

 

[KBGB]

I'd do that now.....might help calm down the crazy one.

Is that because they won’t be jealous of the little ones food?

 

[aart]

Is that because they won’t be jealous of the little ones food?

The chicks should shouldn't eat layer feed because of the 3-5% calcium,
and the higher protein in the chick feed will please the older birds.
Oh, you said 'grower'...what are the protein and calcium percentages in that feed?

I feed nothing but 20% protein Flock Raiser to all my birds....with Oyster Shell on the side for the active layers.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do the chicks actually know how to navigate the panic openings? I teach mine by herding them in and out several times, so they know where the openings are.

Also you didn't mention this as an issue, but to double check, are the panic openings small enough that the older birds cannot squeeze in? 8 weeks is around the upper limit of being able to use openings like that.

Do you have additional clutter in the run with the older birds, so if a chick is caught out away from their safe area, they can still take cover some where?

The chicks should eat layer feed because of the 3-5% calcium,

"Shouldn't"

 

[aart]

Do the chicks actually know how to navigate the panic openings? I teach mine by herding them in and out several times, so they know where the openings are.

Yes, while the older birds are in another area.

"Shouldn't"

Fixed, thanks.

 

[luckycluk]

Everyone has been so helpful so far so I was hoping for some advice on our integration process. Here is the background: We have six 8 week old girls and three 7 month girls - 1 buff orpington and two bantam Cochins that we got 3 months ago. The Orpington is the head hen and she is OBSESSED with food. We have a run and a coop. We do not and cannot free range. We moved the little ones into the coop divided by chicken wire three weeks ago. They sleep on the roosting bar every night side by side with the big girls with chicken wire in between. We also began moving them daily into a divided area of the run 2 weeks ago. So total 3 weeks so far they have been in this "see but don't touch" stage. The Orpington has been pecking thru the wire especially when there is food she gets really mad that she can't steal it. But really uneventful with everyone in their own space. This past week we have tried the panic door method we read about on here. We opened up their space with the panic door that only they can fit thru and watched closely so that we could intervene if needed. The little ones are very content in their space in the run and aren't interested in coming out, especially since when one ventures out they get pecked. Yesterday one of the Wyandotte's ventured out and my Orpington didn't just peck her. She jumped in the air like some kind of karate move and jumped on her back claws out ripping out feathers. I have to be honest, as a new chicken mom it was terrifying! The little one freaked out and couldn't figure out how to get back into the protected space so I finally helped her. The Orpington then took the feathers and ate them!
So my questions - Am I doing it too soon? Are they not ready and should I wait longer? I have to admit that moving them daily is getting to be a real headache as they don't want me to pick them up and move them and it has been a struggle. But I don't want to do it too soon if we need to wait longer. Most of the articles I read are about how to integrate them with free ranging and that is not an option for us. So I don't know how else to help ease this process.
Is my Orpington going to potentially need to be moved out? I have read about pecking, and we experienced that when the original three worked out their pecking order, but the jumping on the back was scary! And why did she eat the feathers?
Thank you so much for your help!

I’m in about the same situation because we can’t free range because of a colony of feral cats.