Integrating older hens to young flock

[artsy.owl]

Hi everyone. I have a small flock of 6 (2 Buff Orpington, 4 Polish) that is 12 weeks old. Yesterday I purchased 2 5week old Amaeracauna pullets and 2 16 month old Blue Maran hens who are already laying. I currently have the newbies in temporary housing away from the others while they are in quarantine to be sure they are healthy. (The “hen hotel” is pictured - do I need to change anything?)
This crazy adventure raises a few questions for this new chicken mama:
1) I’ve read a lot on integrating younger chickens into an established flock but nothing on older hens to a young flock. How? When? What should I expect? Obviously the older hens will assert their dominance. How do I make this easier on everyone?
2) These Chickens were not in a very clean environment. I’ll just say it - it was filthy! They were in wire pens with wire bottoms that was caked in poo, pans for feed which weren’t clean and water was available but was brown from droppings in the tray area. The babies ate like there was no tomorrow when I put in feed yesterday. Should I treat these chickens with Corid as a preventative measure? I gave the little ones water and sav-a-chick electrolyte solution last night. The hens have fresh water with some acv in it. I also put diatomaceous earth in with the shavings in their crates to hopefully combat creepy crawlies that might be living on them. I’m not as worried about the hens because they were free range during the day. They all seem healthy on the outside. Anything else I should do?
3) like I said, the man who had the laying hens let them free range during the day and they were put up at night. I can’t let mine free range but they have a 10x10 kennel run. Will they adjust ok? I hope to build a chicken wire “run” that is portable like a tractor that I can put them all in for free range time in the near future.
4) another reason I can’t let them free range, other than not knowing where home base is, is they were rarely handled and are very skittish. With treats and patience do you think they will warm up to me?
5) it is in the upper 90s here in alabama with heat index of over 100. Their temporary home is on my screened in back porch. Do the 5 week olds still need a heat lamp? I have the ceiling fan on during the day on low.

I’m putting pictures of the newcomers in comments. On a fun note, halfway into the hour drive home, the hens started clucking and making a fuss. My son looked back and one had laid an egg! Already earning her keep!

Sorry it is so long. Thank you in advance for helping me!

 

[artsy.owl]

The new girls: 5 week Ameraucanas

 

[artsy.owl]

And the 16 month old blue Marans. The one on the right has raw spots on her back from a rooster encounter I guess.

 

[artsy.owl]

And my surprise on the way home!

 

[Pork Pie]

@aart has a really good few paragraphs on what can be done to ease integration. Hopefully she is online to help out.

 

[aart]

1)Integration is about the same, see my notes below.

2)Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

Lose the ACV and DE.
Do a thorough bug check, see my notes below.
I would not do corid without evidence.
A dose of Sav-A-Chick would help all the birds with the heat,
but plain water should always be available too at the same time.

3-4) They'll adjust with time.

5) I seriously doubt they need a heat source.


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.



Bugs check
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

 

[artsy.owl]

Thank you!