How To Best Integrate?

[ChickenGirl555]

I am almost done with my new 20' x 30' run, and I need to integrate my 3 polish (2 cockerels, 1 pullet) with my 6 hens before Winter. I was planning on having both flocks be together in the run and forage in it (there's still tons of plants and weeds for them to eat) and I would watch to break up any severe fights. I am mainly worried about my polish pullet, Elvira, who is unusually small for a standard polish (she is for sure not bantam). She is picked on the most and forced to flee and grasp on to any high perch she can find, she even sat on a rabbit fence for half an hour that was basically a single wire she was holding on to. I worry about her, since the boys run instead of protecting her most of the time. The polish are all almost 5 months, born March 28th, 2018. I have two coops, but I want the polish to move into the bigger coop with the hens. My only deadline to get them integrated is when it starts to get cold.

Please give me advice since I already lost one polish to integration. I don't want to lose another, and especially not my only girl.

 

[ChickNanny13]

What breeds are the other 6 chickens?

I've never integrated (allowed only 6 but keep 4, I switch out instead) but have read "see but no touch? Keeping the newbies in the coop with the flock but separated. However I've also read where Polish tend to get peck on because of their "head dress". You could try intergrating but have a Plan B prepared.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

What breeds are the other 6 chickens?

I've never integrated (allowed only 6 but keep 4, I switch out instead) but have read "see but no touch? Keeping the newbies in the coop with the flock but separated. However I've also read where Polish tend to get peck on because of their "head dress". You could try intergrating but have a Plan B prepared.

Barred Rocks, Buff opringtons, and Easter Eggers.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I would just let them sort things out their own chicken way unless the others are really out to kill Elvira.... after a few pecks they will probably tire of harassing her once the pecking order is established. But you know your chickens more than any of us, use discretion.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Personally, I would keep them separated since you already lost one, and Elvira smaller & pecked on. Is she picked on by the Polish? Others? or Everyone?

You can try the "See but No Touch" method, after a month or when you feel comfortable letting them together (only you know your flock), see what happens. Make some hiding places for Elvira that the others can get to her; boards leaning agains a wall/side, buckets on their side, small pet carrier ....

 

[Sneebsey]

I'd get them all in together ASAP. At this age, Elvira will be getting ready to lay and the cockerels will be breeding her. With a 2:1 ratio, she's definitely getting picked on in that respect. I'd get them all in together and just watch and see how it goes; you may well find that after the initial scraps for dominance, your existing girls will focus on the boys, particularly if they are unused to having a man around the house.

I let my 14 week olds out this morning; they have been in a pen near the free-rangers' coop since they were 4 weeks, so integration wasn't too tricky. I just turfed them all out of the pen and liberally threw scratch around for them to focus on, and by evening they seem to be merging fine. With that said, I merged 20 with an existing 30, all of whom have done it all before with integration, and it may not be so easy for you. Just treat liberally, let them scrap it out a bit, and only step in if it really feels like someone is going to get seriously hurt; they can be brutal at first but they will settle in once they have their pecking order sorted out.

 

[snow5164]

I don’t foresee a smooth transition with 2 roosters to 7 hens ..... you need to get rid of a rooster .

Numbers don’t lie

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I don’t foresee a smooth transition with 2 roosters to 7 hens ..... you need to get rid of a rooster .

Numbers don’t lie

The thing is that the boys never pick on Elvira (besides trying to mate) and they are terrified of the Hens.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I would just let them sort things out their own chicken way unless the others are really out to kill Elvira.... after a few pecks they will probably tire of harassing her once the pecking order is established. But you know your chickens more than any of us, use discretion.

Thanks

 

[aart]

I am almost done with my new 20' x 30' run,

That sounds great!
Pics please?
Did you get a bigger coop too?