Hi Ya'll from Windy Wyoming

[WY2PEASRANCH]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Laura and my husband and I live in Wyoming outside of Cheyenne in a city called Granite Canon on 10 acres.
I hatched by 1st flock about a year ago of 5 hens and 1 rooster. Have hatched another set of 3 - 3-month-olds that I am trying to integrate into my OG flock (really hoping this works) and have 6 chicks (weeks old) in the brooder now to move out when it warms up.

Excited to get on here and hear how others have done flock integrations, what has worked and what has not and any tips and tricks I can learn to better my crew.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens, Laura.
Here are a couple of articles about introducing to an existing flock:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-a-pictorial-guide.79343/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-chickens-step-by-step.72815

 

[N F C]

Hi Laura, former resident of WY here...beautiful state, I miss those wide open spaces!

What worked best for me with integration was the "look but can't touch" method. All the chickens can see each other but there isn't any physical contact. After about 3 weeks or so, I would let them all mix while free ranging. Be sure your coop and run are large enough so everyone has room to spread out and places where they can get away from each other. Be on the lookout for excessive pecking and separate for a period of time as needed.

Good luck!

 

[WY2PEASRANCH]

Hi Laura, former resident of WY here...beautiful state, I miss those wide open spaces!

What worked best for me with integration was the "look but can't touch" method. All the chickens can see each other but there isn't any physical contact. After about 3 weeks or so, I would let them all mix while free ranging. Be sure your coop and run are large enough so everyone has room to spread out and places where they can get away from each other. Be on the lookout for excessive pecking and separate for a period of time as needed.

Good luck!

Thank you for the suggestions. The crew was together but separated by fence for about a month. They have been together with no barriers for a few weeks now and the big hens still go after the littles. Not anything too crazy but it's causing the littles to be anxious and they won't go near the big hens, the littles won't go outside the coop at all and they sleep separated. I just worry because when the big hens are in the coop with the littles, the littles will stay far away and wont eat/drink normally as they should... even with separate food/water options. They just stay up high until the big hens are gone. I also worry the littles have not gone outside at all... they have access to separate runs away from the hens and they still choose to stay in the coop.

 

[fldiver97]

Nice to have you here!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to hang out.

 

[N F C]

Thank you for the suggestions. The crew was together but separated by fence for about a month. They have been together with no barriers for a few weeks now and the big hens still go after the littles. Not anything too crazy but it's causing the littles to be anxious and they won't go near the big hens, the littles won't go outside the coop at all and they sleep separated. I just worry because when the big hens are in the coop with the littles, the littles will stay far away and wont eat/drink normally as they should... even with separate food/water options. They just stay up high until the big hens are gone. I also worry the littles have not gone outside at all... they have access to separate runs away from the hens and they still choose to stay in the coop.

It might help to provide lots of various feeders and waterers so the little ones have a better chance. Are your littles small enough to set food & water up for them where the bigger birds can't get in to it?

With the separate runs you have, you may have to physically place your littles in the run and not wait for them to go on their own. You could keep the bigger birds in the coop while the smaller ones are out so your smaller ones have a chance to run around without being harassed.

 

[DobieLover]

They have been together with no barriers for a few weeks now and the big hens still go after the littles. Not anything too crazy but it's causing the littles to be anxious and they won't go near the big hens, the littles won't go outside the coop at all and they sleep separated. I just worry because when the big hens are in the coop with the littles, the littles will stay far away and wont eat/drink normally as they should... even with separate food/water options. They just stay up high until the big hens are gone. I also worry the littles have not gone outside at all... they have access to separate runs away from the hens and they still choose to stay in the coop.

Hello Laura, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Everything you described is normal behavior. A lot of it will resolve when the littles start to lay but their lot in life will be greatly improved by having plenty of space and things to do in that space. Ideally you would have a minimum of 15 sq ft of space per bird in the run with organic litter to scratch around in, things to jump up on and perch and things to hide behind when the youngsters need to get out of the way of the seniors.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! We're happy to have you with us!