How To Best Integrate?

[ChickenGirl555]

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

No, but we think having extra room and tons of foliage will help make it easier to keep them distracted. We have enough room in the coop for the new members but like you said it’s not extra for free ranging. That’s why I’m hoping this run will really help.

It’s rainy right now but all I need is the deer netting put on and I can start using it!

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Ok now I’m a little concerned. I have them all out in a small bunny fenced area for until I get the run completed. They were having small squabbles but eventually giving up....until Elvira started getting ganged up on and they ripped dozens of feathers out. I tried to let them sort it out but she was trapped in a corner and I just had to break it up. Now I’m wondering if I just need more time with them like this before they move in together, or should I use the fence later to make a box inside the run, and put the Barred Rocks bullies in it? I’m just really worried about Elvira. The hens don’t really care as much about the cockerels. For now I’m just going to give them a few hours each day like this and I’ll see if it improves. But how long until they can move in without being killed? Fair is over and it’s almost winter, so I don’t mind a few feathers being pulled but I can’t lose another chicken to this.

 

[Sneebsey]

Have you been trying the 'see but don't touch' policy for long? I find it best to raise birds within sight of the free-rangers, so that they are able to more smoothly integrate when the time comes.

For now, I would be inclined to shut the rest in for a few hours so that Elvira can get the lay of the land before a proper introduction takes place; that way she'll know where to go to hide out. It wouldn't be a bad idea to try placing her with your most timid hen in a place which, preferably, Elvira knows well but the older girl doesn't. This may help tip the balance slightly in Elvira's favour so that she can get onto the pecking order.

As already said, integration can be fairly brutal, but unless you see blood or relentless beatings occuring, I would avoid removing the new birds; they'll just have to start from stage one all over again next time they're reintroduced.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I would avoid removing the new birds; they'll just have to start from stage one all over again next time they're reintroduced.

But what about removing the most aggressive hens? I've heard that it might pull them down the pecking order, making it easier for the polish.

Have you been trying the 'see but don't touch' policy for long? I find it best to raise birds within sight of the free-rangers, so that they are able to more smoothly integrate when the time comes.

I did for a few weeks, as they grew up and weren't big enough to handle the pain of integration. But I've already started physical integration so I don't think I can/want to go back to see-don't-touch.

 

[aart]

No, but we think having extra room and tons of foliage will help make it easier to keep them distracted. We have enough room in the coop for the new members but like you said it’s not extra for free ranging. That’s why I’m hoping this run will really help.

Larger run/range area does not make up for a too tight coop area.....many others have tried to teach you this in the dozen other integration threads you've started.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Larger run/range area does not make up for a too tight coop area.....many others have tried to teach you this in the dozen other integration threads you've started.

Even if they only go in for sleeping and egg laying?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Think of a coop as just a 'bed' to lay their heads at night...... as long as during the majority of the day they are free-ranging or have a sufficient enough size run, I really don't see the point of having a mansion of a coop.

 

[Sneebsey]

The small coop will not help with integration by any means. Remember that these three new birds are seen as a threat to the existing birds' resources, and that includes space constraints.

On the plus side, moving to a new larger coop will again create the need for a reorganisation of pecking order, and by putting the new birds in there a week earlier than the others will make it their turf.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

The small coop will not help with integration by any means. Remember that these three new birds are seen as a threat to the existing birds' resources, and that includes space constraints.

On the plus side, moving to a new larger coop will again create the need for a reorganisation of pecking order, and by putting the new birds in there a week earlier than the others will make it their turf.

The polish WILL be able to roam for a few more weeks until we park the second coop holding the hens into the run for the winter. Also Elvira is the best flier I’ve ever seen. I never cut the flight feathers off my chickens since they never leave the yard anyway, so she flies higher than my coop sometimes. I’ll build perches once they are actually using it with leftover wood from the project, so I think she can escape from their harassment.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Think of a coop as just a 'bed' to lay their heads at night...... as long as during the majority of the day they are free-ranging or have a sufficient enough size run, I really don't see the point of having a mansion of a coop.

That's a climate and seasonally dependant accurate statement. OP gets nasty winters I believe.