How to integrate new youngsters in with the existing flock?

[ace6175]

I have 10 hens right now, 3 years old. Have a 8 ' x 4' coop, plus a fenced area 50' x 100' that they can run in. I bought 2 RIRs and 3 cornish x from farm & fleet almost 6 weeks ago. I also have a small coop, made from a desk, and a fenced area about 6' x 4'. I want to move the cornish & RIR into that area, because the cornish x are pooping machines! Right now I have them in a large dog cage and I can't clean it often enough, they are always laying around in their own poop. The problem with moving them is that 2 weeks ago I bought 6 RIR/BA mix chickens from someone (if only I had seen the ad before I bought the RIR & cornish x!) and they are occupying the small coop. I'm trying to integrate them into my existing flock, but my hens are chasing them away from their food and water. I have extra feeders (5 altogether) and 2 separate waterers. There is plenty of outdoor space, lots of grass and weeds and bugs for them to eat, but at night when they go into the small coop I give them some food and they act like they are starving!
How can I make this work quicker? I have to get the cornish x outside soon!
Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[jbh06]

I am new to the integration process as well, but I just put my 14- 7 week old chicks in with my hens. For the first 3 days things were a little rough and the older birds would chase the chicks away from food and water. But the chicks watch for the hens to leave the feeding area and race over when the coast was clear. After the third day, hens and chicks were eating side by side. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe the pecking order gets established pretty quick. Good luck with your integration

 

[cjh0907]

Before introducing new birds to my flock i keep them in my "intro coop" for a week or two. Basically my intro coop is a shipping box with a run attached to it. That way the birds can see each other for two weeks and sort of set up a pecking order through the fence. I like this because i dont have to worry about the younger chicks getting hurt. I have never had a problem and introduction has seemed to go seamless everytime with minimal fighting if any