Help!!

[Mountain Peeps]

There's no way to know how an individual chicken will act, observation and being ready for problems is all you can do.
The 'head hen' can be viciously cruel, or just consistently remindful of who is boss. Size doesn't matter, but age and temperament can.

Just don't be too quick to intervene, unless there's blood flying, if you interrupt the pecking order establishment, they'll just have to start over later.

Good Luck, Have Fun!

Ok. Thank you very much! You have been very helpful

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I was terribly worried when I put together my old girls flock with the young girls flock. Like you, I didn't want battles at all and let them interact visually for the longest time before integrating. I was mostly worried about my oldest girl, a large black something or other hen with a noticeable limp. Thought she would get the worst of it. I was so wrong! She can dish it out better than anybody and she puts up with no nonsense. They get along fine, all of them, and they all keep out of her way. In fact, if they round a corner and accidentally run into her you should see the panicky flight!

Hope Mary's feeling well after her huge trip and is ready for her next adventures at your place.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I was terribly worried when I put together my old girls flock with the young girls flock. Like you, I didn't want battles at all and let them interact visually for the longest time before integrating. I was mostly worried about my oldest girl, a large black something or other hen with a noticeable limp. Thought she would get the worst of it. I was so wrong! She can dish it out better than anybody and she puts up with no nonsense. They get along fine, all of them, and they all keep out of her way. In fact, if they round a corner and accidentally run into her you should see the panicky flight!

Hope Mary's feeling well after her huge trip and is ready for her next adventures at your place.

Thank you for the response!! What a coincidence! My buff orp has a limp also due to frostbite last winter. But, she is on the top of the pecking order and keeps the others in line! I feel pretty confident about the introducing to the old chickens, I'm just worried about the pullets and Mary. Hopefully it'll go well! How long did it take yours to get used to each other?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Thank you for the response!! What a coincidence! My buff orp has a limp also due to frostbite last winter. But, she is on the top of the pecking order and keeps the others in line! I feel pretty confident about the introducing to the old chickens, I'm just worried about the pullets and Mary. Hopefully it'll go well! How long did it take yours to get used to each other?

They lived side by side all winter long. I didn't free range this winter because it was too cold and I lost a hen to a hawk in the fall.

So I guess five months side by side? Now they all free range together but still go to their separate coops at night out of habit. Woe betide the youngster that is using Ottoline's (that's the one with the limp) box to lay in when she decides its time for her bedtime. She doesn't roost anymore. She sleeps in the box. Five months is ridiculously too long, I know that. They would have been fine after a week or so. That's why I'm posting for you. I think these critters are much more able to get along and sort out their differences than we give them credit for.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

They lived side by side all winter long. I didn't free range this winter because it was too cold and I lost a hen to a hawk in the fall.

So I guess five months side by side? Now they all free range together but still go to their separate coops at night out of habit. Woe betide the youngster that is using Ottoline's (that's the one with the limp) box to lay in when she decides its time for her bedtime. She doesn't roost anymore. She sleeps in the box. Five months is ridiculously too long, I know that. They would have been fine after a week or so. That's why I'm posting for you. I think these critters are much more able to get along and sort out their differences than we give them credit for.

I agree. Thank you again! I think I'm going to have them in their separate incloser in the run during the day and then move the incloser into the coop at night so they are still within the others sight.

 

[Highcotton]

Sounds like a pretty good plan....as long as you have physical separation with visual contact all ready you should be set for any eventuality....it will be fun watching how they adapt, could take a few weeks before they coexist peacefully....or it could happen much sooner!

Mine are now going into the coop to sleep at night on their own. I was worried Friday night night because one of them, an Australorp pullet was missing. I finally looked up and saw her on the ooutside roost with the black rosecombed bantam rooster. The roost is 7 feet high in the covered run. I was amazed that she could fly that high.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Mine are now going into the coop to sleep at night on their own. I was worried Friday night night because one of them, an Australorp pullet was missing. I finally looked up and saw her on the ooutside roost with the black rosecombed bantam rooster. The roost is 7 feet high in the covered run. I was amazed that she could fly that high.

Wow!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi again! I now would like to know how long it will take for them to re-establish the pecking order? I'm just really worried that it will be a long, hard-to-watch and awful process.

 

[aart]

Just play it by ear/eye.....there are no guarantees as all birds behave differently.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Ok. I started introducing. (Mary and the pullets that is.) Mary and Daisy both stick up their hackles when they see each other. Rosie couldn't care less! She's always off on her own little adventure. They have been seeing each other through the fence thing for two days now. How much longer should I wait? Mary, although is friendly towards humans, is super aggressive towards other birds. I'm really nervous!!

Any advice?