integrating 12 week old pullets to orignal flock

[messianicmom]

OK, I know this has been somewhat addressed, but I wanted to ask regarding my own personal situation. I have 3 small pullets and 1-- 6-8 month old Buff O. Rooster, 2 BUff Hens and 2 Barred Hens (which are on the lower totem pole of heirarchy). When they are all in the backyard free roaming, everyone is fine, though they won't eat togther and sometimes the Barreds charge at them (one in particular will draw blood-"Lucy"). The Roo is fine w/them; the BUff girls just won't let them eat at the same time, but won't charge them. SO the backyard is peaceful, but it's like having two separate flocks.

When I've put them in the run, I've done it two different ways. My run isn't big enough to place them in the run inside a small crate. So when I've put them in w/all the Buff's, everything goes fine, w/just an occasional peck.
When I remove the BUff's (except the Roo) and put in the BArreds with them, the BArred harrass them horribly, chasing them and one almost killed one (Lucy attacking again).

I don't know what to do at this point. I don't want two flocks; we have a coop that is for them all that I need to put them in, but it's a manic experience if the little ones (the 12 or so week olds) are placed inside the closed coop w/them.

I really need some specific advice on integrating them better and what to do w/the two Barreds. I know Lucy (the really aggressive Barred) is generally ornery, she always has been, but it's really bad w/these little ones.

Thanks, Rachel

 

[gritsar]

Some pecking is going to have to be done. That's how the older ones will teach the youngsters their place.
I would remove Lucy for awhile. This should help in two ways. First, it will give you the opportunity to see how everyone does without her instigating trouble and two, it should knock her down the totem pole a peg or two and hopefully make her think twice about being the aggressor in the future.

 

[rooster0209]

I agree, removing Lucy may help.

In my experience the pecking usually subsides after a day or two. I actually dread integrating new birds. I have found it to be easier when a hen w/her young birds is put back in with the flock, than when I just add new birds. Sometimes, you just have to put them in and walk away.

 

[sangel4you]

I know you are right and this is probably already here somewhere but if it's ok I am going to post my situation and see if I get any response.
@the last post...you're probably right but sometimes when those are your babies getting beaten in there it's easier said then done :-(

We have 4 15 week hens and 1 roo, and 5 1yr old hens, and their "big daddy" roo that's 3 that we successfully integrated in with them last fall. HE was the quiet one then though.Since he's become the boss of the ladies and their protector etc.
Since they were 9 weeks we had the younger chicks in a sectioned off part of the regular pen with big chicken wire inbetween them. They would occasionally sqwuak at eachother but that was it. They sectioned off portion has become too small and I know they will soon start laying so I decided it was best to integrate now.
We decided to wait until just before dark when we go out to give them their evening "leftovers" and let the little ones door open.
Noone bothered anyone for the first few minutes bc they were preoccupied with their snack. Then one of the big pullets noticed the door open and went into the littleones area and did some sqwauking and flapping at them. They all of course scattered and satisfied she turned around and left their portion of the pen.
Within a few minutes the young roo started to nose out and immediatley was pecked by the boss ladie hen and the big roo. He was running all over trying to get away from them both and couldn't figure out where the door was t get back in his pen for some reason. The big roo proceeded to peck and flog him until he went and hid in a little corner and cowered down.
In the mean time a few of the younger pullets had ventured out after their main man and some of the older hens started pecking at them but nothing too severe.
Then the big roo noticed them. And proceeded to sneak up on one and grab her by the back of the neck with his beak and kind of smother her from behind (it looked almost like he was possibly trying to mount her?) but I'm worried with the feirceness he got on her and pulled her around that he may have been doing more than trying to mount her? Is it possible he was trying to hurt her or was he probably just mounting her to show his dominance in this new situation? (I've never actually seen them mate so I dont know, is it always that violent?) It scared me it was that bad.
After this the little roo came over and ducked by the little pullet which distracted the big roo and he went after him again (what a hero! Cooincidentally his name is "quiet" lol) and he is REALLY mean to him. chasing him around, pecking him, etc...and of course this makes ALL of the girls go nuts too. The only solace Quiet has is when he is managing to wiggle down in the one corner. Luckily after he did that a few times the big girls all went up to roost and the roo soon followed. The young roo was finally able to get out and walk around a few minutes. Eventually he and the young pullets all found their way back into their old pen to roost.
So...do I need to be concerned about the big roo killing my pullets or my cockeral? And if not is there any way I can ease this transistion or what should I do about it?
The older laying hens seem to be tolerating the ordeal tho I wont be surprised if my laying slows down a few days.
I guess my biggest worry is that I don't want to come home from work tmrw and find any dead birds. It sucks bc my big roo and pullets are actually the parents of the little ones and I don't want to lose any of them. And the big guy was my gentle giant normally...NEVER even heard him crow until tonight. NEVER.
The other thing is will my younger ones eventually roost with the big ones? I would hate for them not to bc right now they roost on top of a box LOL.
Sorry about all of the questions, this is the first time I've been on BYC in a few months...
Thanks!

 

[rooster0209]

To me, it sounds like they are working out their positions in the flock. The big rooster was just showing his dominance over the new girls. The action of grabbing by the back of the neck, he was trying to mate and she was not cooperating (obviously).

If there is ample room for the birds to run around, I don't think they are going to kill each other. I have had some get feathers pulled out and start to bleed...the bleeding bird must be removed until healed.

They will eventually roost together but it may take a while. When I integrated my flock this spring, the new pullets would roost on top of access door to outside, never on the roosts with the others. After a few weeks, they are all one happy family.

I know how you feel. I dread the integration of new birds. I had to remove one young rooster several times because he was always getting his tail feathers pulled out and bleeding. Finally that stopped. One of the cutest little red girls (IMO) that I hatched was always getting chased off by "bossy". I added an extra pan of food on the other side of the coop because I was worried she may not get to eat. Finally, I just gave up and quit watching and went inside. They all survived the fuss.

 

[sangel4you]

Thanks Two days later and theres still a few pecks amoung the girls and the little roo is slightly skittish still but he stood right beside the big roo at one point and nothing happened so I think we're going to be ok!!! IDK where they're roosting but at this point IDC. I'll worry about that later after they're accustomed!