Integrated two flocks

[BlueEggsAndHens]

Hi,
So I recently met my 2 of my younger hens with my 3 hens and 1 rooster. I bring them both out in the morning and they spend that whole day with each other till night I take the younger hens in their separate pen for the night.
They have been doing really well not much pecking and chasing each other. As much as they seem they are going well they still seem to be at different ends of the chicken run. And on a time to time they will fight over the food even though I bring out both the younger hens food and the bigger hens their food and water.
Any tips? Or suggestions? For me to make their integration a success i would be so appreciative.
Thank you so much

 

[DobieLover]

I'm not reading that anything is going wrong with the integration. What you've written is all normal. They will remain in sub-flocks until the pullets start to lay. Then they will blend but the younger birds may remain friends and stick together. How much space is in the coop the flock will live in?

 

[BlueEggsAndHens]

I'm not reading that anything is going wrong with the integration. What you've written is all normal. They will remain in sub-flocks until the pullets start to lay. Then they will blend but the younger birds may remain friends and stick together. How much space is in the coop the flock will live in?

Currently they are living free ranged all day in my backyard then at night they go into their coop from 7 to 7 in the morning. So they spend most of their time out of their coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

This always worries me a bit, when people say they don't spend time in the coop. Because sometimes people think that free ranging will make up for a too small coop. But if you have two coops - might not make a difference.

They young birds will be a sub flock until they begin to lay. It is funny, because the divide is obvious now, and then, one day it is gone. I think I would just keep doing what you are doing, and it will work itself out.

Mrs K

 

[BlueEggsAndHens]

This always worries me a bit, when people say they don't spend time in the coop. Because sometimes people think that free ranging will make up for a too small coop. But if you have two coops - might not make a difference.

They young birds will be a sub flock until they begin to lay. It is funny, because the divide is obvious now, and then, one day it is gone. I think I would just keep doing what you are doing, and it will work itself out.

Mrs K

Trust the coop isn't small and my chickens do go into their coop in the day but spend a lot of there time outside.

Also what time should I put them in the same coop. And I do have a smaller one I can put in the coop. Or do I just put them in the same coop and when? Thank you

 

[BlueEggsAndHens]

This always worries me a bit, when people say they don't spend time in the coop. Because sometimes people think that free ranging will make up for a too small coop. But if you have two coops - might not make a difference.

They young birds will be a sub flock until they begin to lay. It is funny, because the divide is obvious now, and then, one day it is gone. I think I would just keep doing what you are doing, and it will work itself out.

Mrs K

I don't have two coops I have a main coop and a big pen i use that is nowhere like a pen it's big enough for the both of them.bug can't be used as a coop

 

[Mrs. K]

I think pictures would really help make this clear. What I would do is let them pick where they want to sleep. Don't separate them. Eventually, at least one of the young birds will follow the older birds into the coop. The next day, shut down where you have the young birds sleeping.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also what time should I put them in the same coop. And I do have a smaller one I can put in the coop. Or do I just put them in the same coop and when? Thank you

Way I handle it is I close off access to the pen/coop/brooder, so the younger ones don't have the option of returning to their usual location. They'll huddle up by it at dusk, when you can just scoop them up and put them in the coop. By 1-2 days they'll figure it out.

 

[BlueEggsAndHens]

Way I handle it is I close off access to the pen/coop/brooder, so the younger ones don't have the option of returning to their usual location. They'll huddle up by it at dusk, when you can just scoop them up and put them in the coop. By 1-2 days they'll figure it out.

So tonight should I close off the younger ones pen and if the younger ones come follow the older hens in should I place the younger hens I'm the coop all together.
I'm just s bit worried that it will go bad over night or in the morning. I'm a bit of a worry with of a parent when it comes to my chickens.

Because another thing I see is in the morning when I let out my hens with the roster he will go after the younger hens and bicker a bit with his own hens. But it will last less then minute and also the hens and rooster throughout the day will peck each other less and spend more time with each other bit in the mornings they peck and avoid each other. I assume this is normal behavior just wanted to check again a worry wort of a mother

 

[rosemarythyme]

So tonight should I close off the younger ones pen and if the younger ones come follow the older hens in should I place the younger hens I'm the coop all together.
I'm just s bit worried that it will go bad over night or in the morning. I'm a bit of a worry with of a parent when it comes to my chickens.

For about a week during that stage of integration, I leave the pop door propped open at night with a brick. It's just enough of a gap for 4 week olds to fit through (in your case you might have to leave it open entirely, as you said they're "young hens" and not chicks). Obviously don't do it if you feel it's too much of a security issue, but it's an easy way to give youngsters an escape route.