How long to wait?

[Popcorn]

I have two two and a half month old chickens, one male and one female and just added two females about a week younger to them. They are getting along pretty well but the new girls have never been handled until today. Anything I can do to make settling in easier? Also how long should I wait until all four are integrated with my current six adults?

 

[Den in Penn]

After the quarantine period you can start the integration. Hand feeding treats is always a good start to taming them down.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I agree with feeding treats, and once you get them all together sharing treats between everyone will help everyone learn how to play nice together.Try to make sure there is a place for the newcomers to hide if they do get picked on. I spend time with mine when I add new birds, I like to think "mommie" watching helps them be nice

which usually isnt enough. Sometimes it takes 1 or 2 weeks to get everyone integrated and sometimes longer, just depends on the flock. I try to keep the stress level down and that along with treats and paitence usually does the trick

 

[Popcorn]

Tried hand feeding, they wont take it. The older chicks are being horrible to the little ones to the point were they wont let the little ones eat from the feeder or the floor. I have to remove the older ones first.

 

[Popcorn]

Oh, and one bites like no other.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Sometimes timid birds are hard to break, I got a 2 and a half month old tri color turkey last week and she is super timid and I am trying to get her to warm up to me. She was never handled either so taking something from my hand is freightening. I found some things that comfort her and make her willing to come to me is the scoop I use to put feed in the feeders, which is actually an old yogurt cup, and when I shake it she comes quickly with her peeps and clucks. So maybe find something that your like. Also try distraction techniques like adding something new to take the focus off the little ones and maybe extra scratch thrown to get everyone to mingle..