Help with introducing my 6 week olds to my four 2 year old hens in the coop.

mamaneedscoffee

In the Brooder
Apr 28, 2021
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Hello, again! I am currently trying to get my 2 year old hens to accept my newer 6 week olds. I have 12 pullets and 2 cockerels I have been slowly introducing into the run over the past few days. I will take a group of 4 out for an afternoon, bring them back to the large brooder box at night, then take a new group of 4 the Next afternoon. I understand that a pecking order has to be established with the older hens, but I have noticed all four of my older girls will corner one of the new ones and constantly peck at it until it has found a place to take cover. Is this normal? Am I doing this wrong? Any help is so appreciated as I am new to bringing in little ones! Just want to avoid injuries!
 
Hello, again! I am currently trying to get my 2 year old hens to accept my newer 6 week olds. I have 12 pullets and 2 cockerels I have been slowly introducing into the run over the past few days. I will take a group of 4 out for an afternoon, bring them back to the large brooder box at night, then take a new group of 4 the Next afternoon. I understand that a pecking order has to be established with the older hens, but I have noticed all four of my older girls will corner one of the new ones and constantly peck at it until it has found a place to take cover. Is this normal? Am I doing this wrong? Any help is so appreciated as I am new to bringing in little ones! Just want to avoid injuries!
Why take 4 at a time, they'd stand a better chance all together?

If the babies are getting cornered, then you either don't have enough clutter in the run to provide hiding spots, or they're placed poorly.

Clutter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Example of how to place obstacles. Every obstacle should have at least 2 exits. Note that any item that's against a wall has extra exits cut out, to prevent birds from getting cornered.
obstacles.jpg
 
And
Why take 4 at a time, they'd stand a better chance all together?

If the babies are getting cornered, then you either don't have enough clutter in the run to provide hiding spots, or they're placed poorly.

Clutter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Example of how to place obstacles. Every obstacle should have at least 2 exits. Note that any item that's against a wall has extra exits cut out, to prevent birds from getting cornered. View attachment 2644915
I was taking four at a time only because that’s what someone in another chicken group told me to do so the older hens wouldn’t get overwhelmed but if it would be better to take them all I will definitely do that! Looking at the diagram you shared, I don’t think I have enough clutter, thank you!
 
Best to get them all out there 24/7 in their own coop/run space adjacent to the existing birds.
What does your set up look like?

Here's 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. 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/
 
Just want to avoid injuries!
That's my goal in an integration, no one gets hurt. I don't worry about them being one big happy cuddly family, that can and will come later when they all grow up. Initially no one gets hurt.

If you can tell us what you have to work with we may be able to offer specific suggestions. How big in feet or meters are your coops, runs, brooders, shelters or anything else you can use? How are they all connected? Photos can be really useful to our understanding. Without that kind of detail we can't do any better than Aart's generic suggestions.

One think I would not do is put them together and expect them to slug it out with mature hens. That's a good way to wind up with dead chicks. I would look really hard at a way to house them across wire for a while to give them a chance to get used to each other where they can't hurt each other. When you do that be very sure the hens cannot get into the chicks' enclosure and that the chicks can't get out of their enclosure and into the hens' space.
 

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