Integrating (almost) full grown pullet.

[Devyn Nagy]

I've got one S.L.Wyandotte pullet who's almost full grown. She hasn't laid an egg yet but she's squatting so it should be soon. She is approximately 20 weeks old. She has been raised by herself. (See Chick Psychology) Anyway, I have been trying to integrate her into my flock of 6 G.L.Ws, and it's not going quite as smoothly as I imagined. (Never does, right?) She's been in her own coop next to the big coop for a couple of weeks (See-but-don't-touch), and she also free-ranges with them. It seem she's accepted them, but they haven't accepted her. She'll follow them around the yard and kind of "hang with them", but if she gets too close she'll be attacked. Am I not doing something right? Do I just need to be patient and give them more time? Be more intentional about putting them together? I need some advice from y'all experienced people.

Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Trying to integrate a single pullet into a flock of only pullets is about the hardest integration there is.
If you had a good cockerel in your original flock he would smooth the integration.
If there is even one member of the original flock that doesn't attack her or better yet, sometimes hangs out with her, try putting that pullet in with your lone one and let them bond for a couple of weeks and try again.
I would leave an opening between the two setups as long as there are plenty of things to hide behind and jump up and perch on and let them work their way into the flock. Once all are laying they should settle into their final order.

 

[aart]

If there is even one member of the original flock that doesn't attack her or better yet, sometimes hangs out with her, try putting that pullet in with your lone one and let them bond for a couple of weeks and try again.

This^^^

 

[Ridgerunner]

My goal with integration is that no one gets injured. Sounds like you have aced that part of it. I agree a single chicken is harder, but why is it harder? They are social animals and want to be with other chickens. With my flock, when there is a maturity difference the more immature avoid the mature because if they invade their personal space they are likely to get pecked or chased. They quickly learn to avoid the older ones. If you have two or more they have a buddy to hang with while they avoid the older ones. If you have only one they really want to be with the others but might get pecked if they get close. It makes it harder.

In your situation I'd let things go as they are. About when that pullet starts laying the others should accept her into the flock, probably within a couple of weeks of her starting to lay. With my flock that is almost always peaceful, hardly ever any drama.

I don't see anything that is broken that a little time won't take care of. It's the way I expect chickens to act. With living animals you never know what they will actually do, you need to watch and act on what you see, but I'd advise patience.