Integrating 2 cockerels & 2 pullets to 8 hens.

[Nor-Cal Chickens]

That sounds like a fun flock. I think they'll all be so excited about all the new friends it will work great. Three group integration might actually be better than two.

That's what I'm hoping for. Better than one "gang" VS another "gang" mentality

 

[NHMountainMan]

Please let us know how it goes. I have a flock of 7 pullets in one coop, and 4 cockerels in a separate bachelor pad. The Bro's are all 22 weeks. They are in coop that's similar to your layout - about 200 feet apart. When I let them range, the cockerels and pullets mingle and are fine, and each flock goes back to their separate coops at night - so far. But I'm watching to see what happens when the hormones kick in. I can keep them separate if need be - and to see which cockerel will move in with the main flock when I divide up more significantly once the snow melts in the spring.

So - -I'm really curious to hear how your integration goes!

 

[ValerieJ]

Please let us know how it goes. I have a flock of 7 pullets in one coop, and 4 cockerels in a separate bachelor pad. The Bro's are all 22 weeks. They are in coop that's similar to your layout - about 200 feet apart. When I let them range, the cockerels and pullets mingle and are fine, and each flock goes back to their separate coops at night - so far. But I'm watching to see what happens when the hormones kick in. I can keep them separate if need be - and to see which cockerel will move in with the main flock when I divide up more significantly once the snow melts in the spring.

So - -I'm really curious to hear how your integration goes!

I'll keep you posted. I'm getting ready to run to town now and will open the gate for the chickens this afternoon. I wanted to time it late in the day so they don't have enough time for anyone to actually get hurt. I'll watch at dusk and expect they will go to their separate coops on their own.

 

[ValerieJ]

First attempt at integration was a big fail.

Surly, my top hen, sort of rules with an iron fist, but the other hens know that and leave her alone. She has even challenged me from time to time, which ends in me carrying her around while I do chores out there until she calms down, although she continues to grow under her breath the whole time. She is also broody about every 3 weeks right now so I have to keep taking her out of the nest. But I think she is funny so I keep her.

But, this time she pushed me a bit far. I let the cockerels and pullets out. Within 30 seconds she pecked at Abby, who has never been pecked before. Poor Abby let out a big scream, so Mad, the larger cockerel, came over and Surly squared up with him, hackles up. His hackles came up and they were instantly in a death grip. I picked up Mad, because he was the closest to me, and he was bleeding already! She bit his beautiful comb. So I sprayed a little Vetericyn on it and let him go. He was pretty riled and started stomping strangely around me, so I had to pick him up again and just sit there with him until he relaxed. When I put him down he was okay again and just went about his business with his tiny flock.

They are all separate again, and I'm giving it a few more weeks before I try again. If the other cockerel, Pippi, goes after the red spot, I'll spray Blu-Kote on him, but it's not likely Pippi will do that. He is smaller than Mad and Mad is clearly the leader of the flock. In fact, I had to pick Pippi up to put him back in his pen and when he complained Mad came running.

Mad's a good rooster. Surly is the one who could end up by herself for a while next time I try. I'll just take put her in a separate pen for a while.

 

[NHMountainMan]

First attempt at integration was a big fail.

Surly, my top hen, sort of rules with an iron fist, but the other hens know that and leave her alone. She has even challenged me from time to time, which ends in me carrying her around while I do chores out there until she calms down, although she continues to grow under her breath the whole time. She is also broody about every 3 weeks right now so I have to keep taking her out of the nest. But I think she is funny so I keep her.

But, this time she pushed me a bit far. I let the cockerels and pullets out. Within 30 seconds she pecked at Abby, who has never been pecked before. Poor Abby let out a big scream, so Mad, the larger cockerel, came over and Surly squared up with him, hackles up. His hackles came up and they were instantly in a death grip. I picked up Mad, because he was the closest to me, and he was bleeding already! She bit his beautiful comb. So I sprayed a little Vetericyn on it and let him go. He was pretty riled and started stomping strangely around me, so I had to pick him up again and just sit there with him until he relaxed. When I put him down he was okay again and just went about his business with his tiny flock.

They are all separate again, and I'm giving it a few more weeks before I try again. If the other cockerel, Pippi, goes after the red spot, I'll spray Blu-Kote on him, but it's not likely Pippi will do that. He is smaller than Mad and Mad is clearly the leader of the flock. In fact, I had to pick Pippi up to put him back in his pen and when he complained Mad came running.

Mad's a good rooster. Surly is the one who could end up by herself for a while next time I try. I'll just take put her in a separate pen for a while.

Sorry that didn't go smoothly. Maybe separating surly might also break the broodiness?
Was surly much larger then the cockerel? Or just more surly?

 

[aart]

Bummer<cringes> it can be brutal!!
This is why I now integrate at 4-6 weeks.

How many older birds....ages/genders?
How much space is this happening in?
Pics would sure help here.

You've probably seen this,
and already past the initial phase of separate but adjacent'...
...but....
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.
Good to 'clutter up' the run too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[ValerieJ]

Sorry that didn't go smoothly. Maybe separating surly might also break the broodiness?
Was surly much larger then the cockerel? Or just more surly?

Surly and the Cockerel are similar in size. She is a BO, but not as big as Lucy, my avatar. Mad is a Lavender Orp and he is going to be huge. He's so pretty.

 

[ValerieJ]

Bummer<cringes> it can be brutal!!
This is why I now integrate at 4-6 weeks.

How many older birds....ages/genders?
How much space is this happening in?
Pics would sure help here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

It's hard to get a good picture of my chicken run, but here is an over all picture. Approx. 4000 SF. There are three sections internally fenced each with a coop. there are 4 feeding stations and 6 watering stations in various runs. The runs have little chicken doors between them so they can go back and forth. I temporarily fenced off about a quarter of the over all space for the chicks, and pictured that section separately. The last photo is Mad Hatter, before the attack. I can't get a new picture of him nor one of Surly because my phone battery died. But I'll go out in a few and try to get those.

Anyway, there is clutter and get aways all over the place. Surly saw them come out, hopped through a chicken door from a different run and ran over to attack. She was on a mission. They weren't encroaching on her at all.

I think next time I try I'll separate Surly. As far as putting 6 week old chicks out with her, I'm pretty sure she would kill them. I put these out there when they were 6-7 weeks and she was stalking them right off the bat. She hasn't done that for a long time now, so I thought perhaps it would be okay. But, nope.

Yes, I have read that advice about integration before. It's great advice. Thanks.

 

[aart]

I think next time I try I'll separate Surly. As far as putting 6 week old chicks out with her, I'm pretty sure she would kill them. I put these out there when they were 6-7 weeks and she was stalking them right off the bat. She hasn't done that for a long time now, so I thought perhaps it would be okay. But, nope.

Good idea...and any other bird that is too aggressive. Got Crates?
Big space!
Maybe more hideouts near the chicks coop....and more feed water stations all around.
Better luck tomorrow?

Thoughts for the future....I brood chicks in separate but adjacent area in coop(which also has a separate run) from about one week after hatch, then open tiny doors at about 4 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[ValerieJ]

Good idea...and any other bird that is too aggressive. Got Crates?
Big space!
Maybe more hideouts near the chicks coop....and more feed water stations all around.
Better luck tomorrow?

Thoughts for the future....I brood chicks in separate but adjacent area in coop(which also has a separate run) from about one week after hatch, then open tiny doors at about 4 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

I do have a crate, and I don't think my other hens will be aggressive. It's just her. But a crate doesn't fit in any of my coops, so I'm going to go out in a half hour and see which coop she sleeps in and who sleeps with her. Then I'll close them off together and try integrating with the other hens first. I would probably have to put some Blu-Kote on Mad so no one pecks at him just because they see blood, although I'm not sure red on red would show up to them.

Don't you think if I just wait another month that Mad will be too big to attack?