How to Integrate 3 different age groups of roosters and hens

[Monroes-feathersnfurs]

Hi Everyone! I'm new and have only breeding Silkies for approximately one year but far from an expert. I know I'm doing too much, like in the morning I emty cans of corn in a baggie and crush it then put grit in it. This is very ignorant I know (ur probably laughing at me which is ok bcuz I ask myself if I'm crazy???!!) Anyway now I'm having a problem getting them to eat grain!!! My current and biggest problem is to get them all together and don't know how. I bought some eggs from two breeders on eBay and didn't receive all Silkies as quoted. I have 4 birds and have no idea what they are! So I need help identifying them. Now to my biggest issue, I have different age groups-group 1 are a year old of 3 girls and one male, group 2 6-7 months old with 2 girls and 4 males (this group has 2 of the off breeds) I also had to take 2 beautiful pure white males out, too aggressive. Also, put the two unknown breeds (male n female) seperate so left with1 of each gender hoping to put with the year olds, group 3- 5 months with 2 males and 3 females. One male I injured hatching him so he's very small and I worry he can't defend himself, he's just about a pound! Group 4 4-5 months I think all females total of 6 2 of which are also that unknown breed. Now my issue all were in a very lg cage with fencing between them so there semi familiar with each other but can anyone PLEASE HELP ME get them all together. I bought a lg she'd as a cool put two Electric doors in and it up a gazebo fenced it in, so I have 11 chickens IN MY HOUSE LOL I need to get them all into coop and nothing's working. PLEASE ANYONE WHO DOESNT MIND OFFERING ADVISE. Im willing to give most of males away but mine are so lovable since I literally hatched them. They even cuddle watching TV until they sleep so I left about good homes. I'm definitely overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted, I will be extremely grateful to anyone offering help! Good luck to all of you and I'm so very excited to begin to meet many of you!!!
Feathersnfurs

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us and I hope you'll enjoy this site as much as we all do!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I have suggested that your thread be moved to another forum, but these members (among others) i recall being likely able to assist @aart and @azygous

Good luck

 

[azygous]

Yeah, I can understand how you would fell overwhelmed. I would be, too. Have these three groups met one another yet? If so, under what circumstances. What have you already tried to do to get them together and what happened?

The first step in getting different groups of chickens integrated is to allow them to observe one another though the safety of a barrier. It's best to throw change at chickens slowly and in steps or they will mutiny. Chickens don't do change. It's in their contract. So you need to sneak change in on them gradually so they won't notice.

Chickens are like any animals, humans included, in that they are very suspicious of and often brutally competitive with strangers. So you want to give them time to see one another, get used to the strangers being among them, and learn about their individual temperaments. At the same time, you want to prevent any hot heads in the mix from flying into a conflict.

I would set up three enclosures. Let the groups spend days getting used to one another through the safety barriers. There probably will be posturing and even some quarrels conducted from each side of the respective barriers. This is normal and how chickens organize their social structure. Let them continue to sleep in their separate quarters at night.

After a few days, when you see things begin to settle down, begin giving two groups time with each other, then switch off letting rotating groups mingle for a little while. Referee at first in case things get rougher than just a few pecks on a comb here and there.

Gradually increase time spent together. Separate them after it appears they've become exhausted from the social interaction. After all, this process can be pretty stressful. But taking things slowly will actually improve the end results with a very minimum of conflict.

When the three groups are getting along okay during the day, you can choose a night and move them all into the coop together and at the same exact time. Do not move any one group into the coop before the others or the first group will feel they own the coop. This entire process should take no more than three weeks to accomplish, probably much sooner.

 

[Mrs. K]

If I read the post right, the chickens have seen each other. And the op has a new to all of them set up outside.

In the gazebo, I would put some clutter, large boxes, pallets, roosts, old chairs. I would set up a couple of feed stations, where as a bird eating at one station, would be out of sight of the other stations.

Then, I would take all the groups out there at one time, say an hour before dark. This will be a strange place to all of the birds, and none of the birds will have a home court advantage. Each group is approximately the same number of birds, but they will all have friends.

What I would expect to happen, is the birds will do a lot of puffing up, and posturing, and a few skirmishes, but I think they will all be running around, exploring, finding treats, totally discombobulated, and looking for a place to roost, I would be quite surprised to find a single bird bearing a horrible attack by many.

I would make sure the automatic doors open and close, and do this on a day whereas I was going to be around most of the time for a couple of days, to keep an eye out.

If you get one or two birds that are too aggressive, take them back to where they are now, and let the rest work it out in the coop. Then add them back to the flock in the coop in a week.

I would not add grit to corn or any feed, just leave it in a bowl near the feed.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Tell us and show us your coop and run.
Dimensions and pics, please.


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.

 

[Monroes-feathersnfurs]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I have suggested that your thread be moved to another forum, but these members (among others) i recall being likely able to assist @aart and @azygous

Good luck

Hi and Thank you. I'm still trying to navigate in here, what do you mean by another forum, a completely different web? Also, if I have free silkies can I offer to local members? If so how do I do that as well as seeking advice for current issues I have. I have 25 chickens n not in best health but I give the best of best to my chickens and I'm slowly finding out I'm doing so many unessasary things for them as if they r house pets. Thank you for your help!

 

[Monroes-feathersnfurs]

Yeah, I can understand how you would fell overwhelmed. I would be, too. Have these three groups met one another yet? If so, under what circumstances. What have you already tried to do to get them together and what happened?

The first step in getting different groups of chickens integrated is to allow them to observe one another though the safety of a barrier. It's best to throw change at chickens slowly and in steps or they will mutiny. Chickens don't do change. It's in their contract. So you need to sneak change in on them gradually so they won't notice.

Chickens are like any animals, humans included, in that they are very suspicious of and often brutally competitive with strangers. So you want to give them time to see one another, get used to the strangers being among them, and learn about their individual temperaments. At the same time, you want to prevent any hot heads in the mix from flying into a conflict.

I would set up three enclosures. Let the groups spend days getting used to one another through the safety barriers. There probably will be posturing and even some quarrels conducted from each side of the respective barriers. This is normal and how chickens organize their social structure. Let them continue to sleep in their separate quarters at night.

After a few days, when you see things begin to settle down, begin giving two groups time with each other, then switch off letting rotating groups mingle for a little while. Referee at first in case things get rougher than just a few pecks on a comb here and there.

Gradually increase time spent together. Separate them after it appears they've become exhausted from the social interaction. After all, this process can be pretty stressful. But taking things slowly will actually improve the end results with a very minimum of conflict.

When the three groups are getting along okay during the day, you can choose a night and move them all into the coop together and at the same exact time. Do not move any one group into the coop before the others or the first group will feel they own the coop. This entire process should take no more than three weeks to accomplish, probably much sooner.

Thank you so very much for spending the time to write to me. As I get it all organized in my head and put in my response to you then maybe you'll have a better understanding of my set up and with your obvious knowledge can really help me along even more if you don't mind. You don't know how much I appreciate your time and effort you spent typing your suggestions in helping me. I'm alone and actually have cried like a baby due to feeling so lost. So again I thank you and will give you a much better detail and easier to understand me in my next IM. I My first one was all over the place because I was very nervous... Lol ttys I hope.
Feathersnfurs

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and Thank you. I'm still trying to navigate in here, what do you mean by another forum, a completely different web? Also, if I have free silkies can I offer to local members? If so how do I do that as well as seeking advice for current issues I have. I have 25 chickens n not in best health but I give the best of best to my chickens and I'm slowly finding out I'm doing so many unessasary things for them as if they r house pets. Thank you for your help!

Click on the “Introduction to BYC at a glance” line under this message - that should help. A forum is basically a title for threads on a given topic, e.g. ducks, breed / gender etc.