How do I introduce new chickens to my flock? Help!

[tizabel_]

Hello! I have a small flock of English Orpingtons around 9 weeks old. I also have 3 EOs that are in the brooder but are ready to come out to the coop. They were in the same brooder a couple weeks ago until I put the older ones in the coop, so I thought that they would remember each other and get along but I thought wrong.
I moved the younger ones to a dog crate and put them in the run so that they could see each other. They had some staring contests and then went back to what they were doing. I kept the crate door closed for a day and since nobody was acting out of the usual, I decided to open the crate door a couple times a day while I was supervising. The younger ones tried to come out and explore but after a couple steps onto the grass they were charged at and pecked by the closest chicken.
The older ones don’t seem very interested until the youngsters try to come out of the brooder.
What do I do?? Should I have done something different or is there something I can do now? Will this get better over time? At what point should I interfere with the fights? I appreciate all insite and I would love to hear how others introduced their chickens! Thank you!

 

[mlh328]

Following along since I'll be in the same boat before too long!

 

[aart]

How old are the younger birds?
Too bad you didn't move them all out at the same time.
If youngsters are significantly smaller than the olders, you could prop crate door open so only the youngers can fit thru.


These tips should help.....

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/

 

[tizabel_]

How old are the younger birds?
Too bad you didn't move them all out at the same time.
If youngsters are significantly smaller than the olders, you could prop crate door open so only the youngers can fit thru.


These tips should help.....

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/

The younger ones are 6 weeks, thank you for the info!