I have a question about how to introduce my new chickens to the older girls.

[LindseyB66]

I have 10 week old RIR's and want to introduce them to the older girls in about 2 months. We just moved them into the coupe (we divided the top level into two). The older girls can see them through the cracks and hear them but, can't touch them. In about two months, I would like to take down the division and have them together. This is our first time introducing new chickens and I was hoping to get some advice on how and what we can do to make the transition easier on all of them.

Thank you!

 

[iwiw60]

I would recommend you replace that wooden divider with wire...."they" can see "them" and "them" can see "they" if you get my drift. This will allow them to co-mingle without any danger of fighting breaking out. This could take several weeks (or longer)...best of luck and keep us updated!!

 

[boskelli1571]

Hello & welcome to BYC! You have a good start. Seeing, hearing, no touching is good. Are you able to somehow get them next to each other but divided by a fence of some sort? Like a divided run?
Your new girls will be a good size when you introduce them, so bullying should be fairly low key. Be warned though, there will be pecking, feather pulling and all sorts of not pretty behavior. Try not to interfere unless you see merciless bullying or blood. Good luck, sounds like you have it under control!

 

[Mrs. K]

Well I think you are off to a good start. Integration of chickens is like math....

When considering the two "flocks":

Older birds are positive, younger birds are negative
Bigger flock numbers are positive, smaller flock numbers are negative
Home turf is positive, strangers are negative
Size: bigger is positive, smaller is negative

The biggest issue is size, and big trumps small, sometimes to the death.

However, in your set up, you have neutralized the home front, and stranger issue, when they get close to the same size, I don't think there will be any issue at all.

Mrs K

 

[LindseyB66]

I would recommend you replace that wooden divider with wire...."they" can see "them" and "them" can see "they" if you get my drift. This will allow them to co-mingle without any danger of fighting breaking out. This could take several weeks (or longer)...best of luck and keep us updated!!

Okay, my husband is going to take the divider down in a few weeks and replace with wire so that for the remainder of the separation, they will all be able to see each other! Thanks for your help!

 

[LindseyB66]

Hello & welcome to BYC! You have a good start. Seeing, hearing, no touching is good. Are you able to somehow get them next to each other but divided by a fence of some sort? Like a divided run?
Your new girls will be a good size when you introduce them, so bullying should be fairly low key. Be warned though, there will be pecking, feather pulling and all sorts of not pretty behavior. Try not to interfere unless you see merciless bullying or blood. Good luck, sounds like you have it under control!

Thank you! We are going to take down the wood division and replace with wire in a few weeks! I am hoping they will be big enough when we introduce them that it won't be too bad! I am so worried about it and I will do my best to stay out of it unless it gets too bad. Thank you for the advice!!

 

[LindseyB66]

Well I think you are off to a good start. Integration of chickens is like math....

When considering the two "flocks":

Older birds are positive, younger birds are negative
Bigger flock numbers are positive, smaller flock numbers are negative
Home turf is positive, strangers are negative
Size: bigger is positive, smaller is negative

The biggest issue is size, and big trumps small, sometimes to the death.

However, in your set up, you have neutralized the home front, and stranger issue, when they get close to the same size, I don't think there will be any issue at all.

Mrs K

Thank you for your advice!! I am definitely waiting until the Rhode Island Reds are big enough in comparison to my older girls!

 

[ephoist]

I too am introducing two 16 week old young ladies to my established one year old ladies. I decided the run and put a kennel for them at the end for them to hang out in. I took down the net divider two weeks ago and the older ones terrorize them all day long. They are all different breeds but my light brahma is aggressive toward the younger ones.she has caused some blood letting. The little ones won't come out of their kennel all day unless I lock up the older ones. Will they always be like this? It it ever going to end?! I need harmony in the coop!!

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? Do you have some hideouts? Different levels? Try putting a pallet up on cement blocks or saw horses. Or lean a pallet up against the wall. This provides multi- levels, shade, and space to get away from each other. A box set up kitty corner, or any other obstacle can keep the older ones having a straight open run, often times if they can get out of sight, things will calm down.

And then consider...... how much space do you have, if the quarters are least bit too tight, you might have to remove a bird or two to get to the optimum level for your set up. Sometimes it just takes that. I found this out accidentally, I had 14 birds, lost two to a predator and was feeling kind of bad, but within days, I noticed a change in my flock, they were calmer, more at peace with each other. When it gets down to winter, I have 12 birds in my flock, as they spend more time together on the roost, and 12 is what fits best.

Mrs K

 

[LindseyB66]

I too am introducing two 16 week old young ladies to my established one year old ladies. I decided the run and put a kennel for them at the end for them to hang out in. I took down the net divider two weeks ago and the older ones terrorize them all day long. They are all different breeds but my light brahma is aggressive toward the younger ones.she has caused some blood letting. The little ones won't come out of their kennel all day unless I lock up the older ones. Will they always be like this? It it ever going to end?! I need harmony in the coop!!

Oh no! That's what I'm afraid of!! How were they with the net divider? I can tell our boss lady was not liking the fact she could hear our two babies yesterday when we added the wood divider and put them in... She was making all kinds of noise and looking around and going up and down the ladder... Today, however, she seems to have gotten over it. I am so nervous to introduce them! I am hoping adding the wire so they can fully see but, not touch each other next will make all the difference! I hope you get some good advice!