Integrating new chickens to established flock

[lilmstw72]

I purchased 6 lt brahma chicks from a local feed store April 17th which were supposed to all be pullets (95%) but we have already re-homed 2 roosters and I'm pretty sure I have 2 more left. 1 of the pullets began laying a little over a week ago. I purchased chickens strictly for eggs so I decided I better pick up a few more hens and found a wonderful seller locally who sold me 2 blue jersey giant pullets (17 weeks old) and 1- 2 year old EE who has already laid 2 times for me since Saturday. The way my coop is set up includes 2 boxes, 1 for the girls to sleep in and the other side is split in half for nesting boxes. The first night the 'jersey girls' slept in the corner outside of the boxes and Star (my EE) slept on the perch in the coop. Now my brahmas and the jerseys sleep in the box together at night while Star sleeps on the perch but during the day my new girls stay clear of the brahma clan. I've been letting my original 4 free range during the day so the new ones can freely roam their new arrangements and eat/get water, etc.

My question is how long will it take for everyone to be 'friends'? Also, how long should I keep them in the coop before I can let them free range without the chance of them wandering off. I think I've read 2weeks is a good time frame but just double checking.

Our coop/run area currently is about 35 sq feet but we are in the process of expanding that another 64 sq feet. The resting box is about 2x3.

The Jersey girls are just so nervous/scared right now if the others are around. I'm hoping this gets better soon.

 

[chica57]

I added 11 new girls this year and was on this forum alot-I thought the new ones would never come out of the coop-they always huddled in the corner together-I had to set up seperate feeder and waterer because the other girls werent going to let them use theres in the beginning. At night though most of them would perch with the others but during the day they would just look out the door and not come out (alot of coop cleaning during this time!) everyone said patience-they will figure it out-it took mine about 3 weeks and I still had one that wouldnt come out up to almost 2 weeks after that-now there all fine-they did look scared and I was out there all the time so worried about the whole thing but they do work it out and figure out there pecking order-patience I guess is the answer (it seemed forever to me!)

 

[CCFarms9559]

Chica57 - thanks for that reply. I'm doing the same thing right now myself. The new chickens stay in the coop unless I force them out. They do seem to adjust more every day - but it's helpful to know it could take weeks.

 

[chica57]

I reread your post-you have 2 more new roosters left???When I got my new ones found I had one rooster and in the beginning he wouldnt let them near the door to even go out because they were his flock and he was keeping them from the older ones and I did have to rehome him (one of my friends wanted him) He would push them constantly in the corner-after he was gone then it took the rest of the time for them to adjust.

 

[lilmstw72]

My 2 roosters are from the original group. Which means out of 6 chicks, I ended up with 2 hens. ugh! So much for 95% hen ratio....
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I guess they will all get along sooner or later.

 

[Judy]

Just to add a little more encouragement. Eventually they will sort it out -- it does seem to take forever.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Perhaps the end section of this BYC page could help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[lilmstw72]

Thanks! The BYC page helped a lot. I tried to find that first but somehow missed it.

 

[Mattemma]

I added my five 15 week old hens to the chicken shed last Friday night. I have 3 red sex link hens that are around a year and half old.They pretty much peck and chase the teens all over.In the am when I open up the shed door my teens are huddled in a corner. They run,jump, or fly when they see one of the big girls coming their way.They were even pecking at each other today. It is hard to watch. I try not to step in unless a little one is cornered and needs a bit of help,or if the big girls get a bit rough.I read if I step in to much the process will take longer.

I was hoping to get a rooster to put them all in line,but that would have caused problems with the neighbors.A roo would have been nice as a protector too since we have lots of hawks.We did have one( part of the teen group),but he died suddenly one day.

I am curious to see who will be the head hen,and which will be the lowest ranking among the 8.

My dd's class had 24 eggs last spring.Out of those 24 only 6 hatched.Out of the 6 only one was a roo.I know most always end up with to many roos.I was sad that we did not have another roo,and so weird that of all to die it was the boy! I am off to read that byc page.

http://msmvchicks.blogspot.com/