Integrating new chickens into flock

[KimberlyP]

Hi everyone! I recently added two silkies to my life, and was hoping introductions with my juvenile (about two months) birds would go well but it hasn't. My silver leghorn always starts harassing the smaller silkie, and then a few others will start. So, after reading a bunch of threads, I started to keep them able to see each other, but not get to each other. I first used a dog crate that I put in the run, but felt bad for the silkies because they didn't have much room. So lately, I have been putting the silkies in either the enclosed run, or the open run, while the OG flock is in the other.

They all sleep in the same coop with zero problems (I put a camera in there so I can keep an eye) and I have them all come out at the same time to see how they're doing, but Hei-Hei always goes right for Oreo. As soon as they're all harassing her, I then separate them.

Is there anything else I can do to help wit integration? It's only been 5 days, and I know it can take a week or two.

Tons of pictures because I'm pretty much chicken crazy.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi everyone! I recently added two silkies to my life, and was hoping introductions with my juvenile (about two months) birds would go well but it hasn't. My silver leghorn always starts harassing the smaller silkie, and then a few others will start. So, after reading a bunch of threads, I started to keep them able to see each other, but not get to each other. I first used a dog crate that I put in the run, but felt bad for the silkies because they didn't have much room. So lately, I have been putting the silkies in either the enclosed run, or the open run, while the OG flock is in the other.

They all sleep in the same coop with zero problems (I put a camera in there so I can keep an eye) and I have them all come out at the same time to see how they're doing, but Hei-Hei always goes right for Oreo. As soon as they're all harassing her, I then separate them.

Is there anything else I can do to help wit integration? It's only been 5 days, and I know it can take a week or two.

Tons of pictures because I'm pretty much chicken crazy.

They're cute!
It typically takes a lot longer than a week or two.
You don't have a lot of space and that is not going to help with the integration.
Sorry to be so blunt. It's a character flaw of mine.

 

[KimberlyP]

They're cute!
It typically take a lot longer than a week or two.
You don't have a lot of space and that is not going to help with the integration.
Sorry to be so blunt. It's a character flaw of mine.

The enclosed run isn't very big, but the outdoor run is actually fairly large. The coop is fairly large as well. Typically, in the morning when I let them out, I also open the door so they can go to the outdoor run. So there definitely isn't a lack of space for them at all, but I appreciate your bluntness because I would rather know if I am doing something wrong since I'm new to this

 

[DobieLover]

How many 2 month old birds do you have? Are they all LF size? Exactly how large is the small run in ft x ft and how large is the larger run in ft x ft?
When I integrated 3 LF pullets into my flock of 8 LF pullets/1 LF cockerel, I was working with a small coop with a 60 sq ft attached run, a 1/4-acre enclosed pen with the main coop with 176 sq ft attached run and free range conditions. That is what I was referring to when I said "a lot of space".

 

[KimberlyP]

Their enclosed area isn't big, but they aren't kept locked in there (except for during this integration). They have around a tenth of an acre in their outdoor enclosure (which is going to be bigger once we cut a tree down and move the coop to the permanent place), and when we are outside, they free range on our 3 acres. There are 9 of the original birds, not sure of their weights right now though, but not much bigger than the silkies

 

[aart]

As soon as they're all harassing her, I then separate them.
Is there anything else I can do to help wit integration? It's only been 5 days, and I know it can take a week or two.

When you separate, you're starting all over again. Unless the newbs are being beaten bloody, let them work it out.

Will likely take more than a week or two...sometimes it can take less time, but you've seen now that is probably not going to be the case here.


Here's some tips about.....
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.

 

[KimberlyP]

Thank you! I will keep them in the kennel a bit longer, then do the introductions again and at that point only separate if they're seriously hurt.

When you separate, you're starting all over again. Unless the newbs are being beaten bloody, let them work it out.

Will likely take more than a week or two...sometimes it can take less time, but you've seen now that is probably not going to be the case here.


Here's some tips about.....
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.