Integrating chickens

[Mountain Granny]

Hi, I have 6 month old chicks, 2 year old chickens,and 8 month old chickens and a 2 year old rooster . I am wanting to put all into 2 coop. Would they do ok if I put them all in the coop at sundown so they would have the night together and wake up together. They will be locked in the coop for a few days then let out into the run . I don't have a door on the run so I can't get in there to stop fighting..

 

[StarOnFire59]

Hi, I have 6 month old chicks, 2 year old chickens,and 8 month old chickens and a 2 year old rooster . I am wanting to put all into 2 coop. Would they do ok if I put them all in the coop at sundown so they would have the night together and wake up together. They will be locked in the coop for a few days then let out into the run . I don't have a door on the run so I can't get in there to stop fighting..

My guess is the 6 & 8 months old should be fine together, but keep the 2 year old roo with the 2 yr old hens

 

[thecatumbrella]

So these are all separate groups of chickens that have never interacted? If so, I would not shut them in a coop together. You might not like what you see when you open it back up.

Integration is done slowly over several days to weeks, using the see-no-touch method. You can use fencing, crates, playpens, hardware cloth, etc. Anything that allows the chickens to be face-to-face without causing harm. Once they seem to have lost interest in each other, you can begin allowing them to interact. Make sure no one is being overly bullied or injured. Only then, would I allow everyone to roost together.

Best of luck getting your groups integrated.

 

[StarOnFire59]

I have two still arguing over who's the queen & all 3 came here on the same day from the same place. I think Betty has won. They all move out of her way at the feeder. I think because she pecks the hardest. She's cranky. If she wasn't the best layer I think she'd be stew. She's not friendly to us either, but none of them have ever pecked us. Loving into submission takes time. Frittata is the only one who runs up to be petted so far.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How much room, in feet or meters, do you have in each coop? How much room, in feet or meters, in any runs? How are they tied together, do the coops share a common run? Can they see each other now or from the coops/runs so they can get used to each other? Are any of these groups together now? Are the 6-month-olds laying? Are the 8-month-olds laying? How many do you have of the 6-month-olds? The 8-month-olds? The 2-year-olds? Is your weather such that they can get into the run during daylight hours or will snow or storms keep them in the coops? Why two coops instead of one? Which groups do you want together? I'm trying to determine what you are working with and what you want so I can make suggestions specific to your case.

Without knowing what you are working with I can only make generic suggestions that apply to most people. Whether they are treated as chicks or adults depends on whether they are laying or not.

Housing them where they can see each other for a week or two helps them get used to each other. The more room they have the better. Forcing them into a small space can be very bad. Separate sleeping spaces might help. Multiple feeding and watering stations can help instead of only one.

 

[Mountain Granny]

Hi, I have 6 month old chicks, 2 year old chickens,and 8 month old chickens and a 2 year old rooster . I am wanting to put all into 2 coop. Would they do ok if I put them all in the coop at sundown so they would have the night together and wake up together. They will be locked in the coop for a few days then let out into the run . I don't have a door on the run so I can't get in there to stop fighting..

I have 9 of the 6 months olds. They have been living 4 in one pen 2 orpingtons, 1 Sapphire and 1 silky. Next to that pen was 5. 3 americanas and 2 sapphires. They pecked one of the americanas feathers out of her lower back so I put her in a place of her own but she's healed up now. She does have a beak that doesn't close all the way. I was wondering if maybe that's why they picked on her. Then I have 2 barred rocks and a austrolorp separated due to bald backs. They are all feathered out except one barred rock. I separated her from her sister thinking maybe they were pecking each other. Those 3 are about 2 years old. They all ( including the 6 month olds) are where they can see each other. Right now my roo and 3
orpingtons all live in their own coop and run.there is a fence separating the 2 runs. I can leave my opinion roo and his girls in there for now. Maybe I should try to put the 2 year old astrolorp & 2 year old barred rock in with the roo & girls they are all the same age. I for got I have a 2 year old orpington & 3 8 month old hens in another coop with a run. The orpington hatched those chicks. My goal is to try to get them all in the big coop and run together. Thanks for any advice. These guys are like my babies. Lol I want to do this as best as I can !!

Hi, I have 6 month old chicks, 2 year old chickens,and 8 month old chickens and a 2 year old rooster . I am wanting to put all into 2 coop. Would they do ok if I put them all in the coop at sundown so they would have the night together and wake up together. They will be locked in the coop for a few days then let out into the run . I don't have a door on the run so I can't get in there to stop fighting..

 

[GoosesGeeses]

So these are all separate groups of chickens that have never interacted? If so, I would not shut them in a coop together. You might not like what you see when you open it back up.

Integration is done slowly over several days to weeks, using the see-no-touch method. You can use fencing, crates, playpens, hardware cloth, etc. Anything that allows the chickens to be face-to-face without causing harm. Once they seem to have lost interest in each other, you can begin allowing them to interact. Make sure no one is being overly bullied or injured. Only then, would I allow everyone to roost together.

Best of luck getting your groups integrated.

I agree

 

[Mountain Granny]

Hi, I have 6 month old chicks, 2 year old chickens,and 8 month old chickens and a 2 year old rooster . I am wanting to put all into 2 coop. Would they do ok if I put them all in the coop at sundown so they would have the night together and wake up together. They will be locked in the coop for a few days then let out into the run . I don't have a door on the run so I can't get in there to stop fighting..

 

[Mountain Granny]

Thanks for trying to help me. I have 2 orpingtons, 1 saphier & 1 banty 6 months old in one pen. I have 3 americanas and 2 sapphires 6 months old in another pen. One Americans in another pen. She was being picked on by the others so she is by herself. She doesn't close her beak all the way I noticed when I took her out. Not sure if that was why they were picking on her or not. I have a 2 year old astrology in another pen due to feathers missing . And 2. 2 year old barred rock hens missing feathers. One is bald on her back so I thought maybe her friend was picking her feathers so they are separated. Everyone is fully feathered except for the bald back one. They can all see each other.

I have 9 of the 6 months olds. They have been living 4 in one pen 2 orpingtons, 1 Sapphire and 1 silky. Next to that pen was 5. 3 americanas and 2 sapphires. They pecked one of the americanas feathers out of her lower back so I put her in a place of her own but she's healed up now. She does have a beak that doesn't close all the way. I was wondering if maybe that's why they picked on her. Then I have 2 barred rocks and a austrolorp separated due to bald backs. They are all feathered out except one barred rock. I separated her from her sister thinking maybe they were pecking each other. Those 3 are about 2 years old. They all ( including the 6 month olds) are where they can see each other. Right now my roo and 3
orpingtons all live in their own coop and run.there is a fence separating the 2 runs. I can leave my opinion roo and his girls in there for now. Maybe I should try to put the 2 year old astrolorp & 2 year old barred rock in with the roo & girls they are all the same age. I for got I have a 2 year old orpington & 3 8 month old hens in another coop with a run. The orpington hatched those chicks. My goal is to try to get them all in the big coop and run together. Thanks for any advice. These guys are like my babies. Lol I want to do this as best as I can !!

 

[Mountain Granny]

Thanks for trying to help me. I have 2 orpingtons, 1 saphier & 1 banty 6 months old in one pen. I have 3 americanas and 2 sapphires 6 months old in another pen. One Americans in another pen. She was being picked on by the others so she is by herself. She doesn't close her beak all the way I noticed when I took her out. Not sure if that was why they were picking on her or not. I have a 2 year old astrology in another pen due to feathers missing . And 2. 2 year old barred rock hens missing feathers. One is bald on her back so I thought maybe her friend was picking her feathers so they are separated. Everyone is fully feathered except for the bald back one. They can all see each other.