I have five young hens that I am trying to blend into my flock. I kept them in a chicken tractor next to the rest of the run so the to sets of birds could see each other every day for a good month. When the young ones looked big enough to defend themselves I opened it up to let them mingle.
What a mess.
The young girls got harassed mercilessly and hounded back into their own little coop.
I waited a little longer and put them into the same coop at night when they were all asleep. Yeah, right. As soon as I came in with the first one the whole flock woke up and began screaming like I was a fox!
I have left them in there to sort themselves out and they don't seem to be blending at all. The five remain on posts inside the coop. They rarely get outside and if they DO manage to get outside they are refused the right to re-enter, so I come out at night and they are huddled next to the pop door. Most of them are the same breed so thats not the issue.
How long will this go on? Did I wait too long to blend them?? Should I intervene in some way??
What a mess.

I waited a little longer and put them into the same coop at night when they were all asleep. Yeah, right. As soon as I came in with the first one the whole flock woke up and began screaming like I was a fox!
I have left them in there to sort themselves out and they don't seem to be blending at all. The five remain on posts inside the coop. They rarely get outside and if they DO manage to get outside they are refused the right to re-enter, so I come out at night and they are huddled next to the pop door. Most of them are the same breed so thats not the issue.
How long will this go on? Did I wait too long to blend them?? Should I intervene in some way??