How do i intergrate chickens?

[aart]

Quote: Measure it.

If the coop is empty of other birds, put the 4 news ones in there at the same time.
Provide hiding places, multiple feed/water stations, and several roosting places.

Let them hash it out.

 

[chickens123432]

They are probably fighting for dominance. Without dominance there isn't any order in the flock. They will fight to see who is fit enough to be leader. It's a peck order thing.

I understand that but the level of fighting they are at is unbelievable! its like cock fighting. ones face was all covered in blood and they get scratches everywhere. and they just jump up on each other

 

[chickens123432]

Measure it.

If the coop is empty of other birds, put the 4 news ones in there at the same time.
Provide hiding places, multiple feed/water stations, and several roosting places.

Let them hash it out.

ok ill try doing that this weekend. when its supposed to be a warmer and I have time to set it up.

 

[centrarchid]

I understand that but the level of fighting they are at is unbelievable! its like cock fighting. ones face was all covered in blood and they get scratches everywhere. and they just jump up on each other

A picture of these birds very much needed. Your original account was exactly what I would recommend against because some issues involving how they were confined close to each other

 

[chickens123432]

A picture of these birds very much needed. Your original account was exactly what I would recommend against because some issues involving how they were confined close to each other

I don't know how to post photos. The birds got out almost every day to run around and the dog cages were HUGE. Also I have done this before so i don't need you saying I'm doing everything wrong.

 

[centrarchid]

Interesting.

 

[rooster239]

What you do is mix them around , take all but one in the group and put one in that cage were that one chicken is left then put another one in and then put one of the ones in the previous that you took out, then you will need a rooster to maintain them , this method works very effectively , any questions contact me
Regards

 

[Almosta Farm]

I don't know how to post photos. The birds got out almost every day to run around and the dog cages were HUGE. Also I have done this before so i don't need you saying I'm doing everything wrong.

It seems to me, if you were doing everything right, you wouldn't be here asking for advice. What works for one bird may not work for another. If you want advice, please be as gracious to receive it as others here are to give it. Everyone here tries their best to help ...

 

[Yellow Feather]

Here's how I successfully re-integrated birds that had been previously in the flock, but were isolated for any length of time:

After the injuries were healed and feathers were coming back, I waited until after dark and slipped them onto the roost with all the other birds. The next day, I checked them several times as the dawn broke to make sure they were ok. These birds were returning to a flock where they had been previously accepted. When birds are removed from the flock even for one night, they will be treated as newcomers by the flock.

For birds that have never lived in the same space, it is more difficult. A bird that gets beat up a lot, will act nervous, which seems to encourage more pecking. When the space is confined, the territorial birds will defend their space viciously. I found it is very difficult to integrate new birds into a confined space, like inside a coop or small run. The chickens that are low in the pecking order need to have a place to get away, and that means a nice big area.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

I tried to put them in 2 different crates next to each other. I'm not sure the measurement from the coop (but its pretty big) and the run is 6x3 but were in the process of building a bigger one. I brought 2 birds down to the coop just recently so this weekend hopefully i'll get them together

If this is the correct measurements of your run, it seems a little on the small side for 4 adult birds. You have 18sf, I think the recommended amount I've seen on this site is 10sf/bird. If you follow that advice you only have enough room for 1.8birds. I have 7hens and 1 roo in a 176sf run which gives over twice the recommended space and even with that I'm seeing more pecking lately with the cabin fever setting in due to all the snow.

Suggest you suspend your integration efforts and apply that energy to expanding the run, then trying again to integrate them in the new bigger run. Also I don't think you want to expand the run and add two of the birds then try to integrate the other two. Better to let them all have the "new" run at the same time so no one has a chance to claim ownership when the new birds are added. It's all new stuff and they all have an equal shot at it if they all get introduced to it at the same time.