Integrating One Australorp Pullet with Two English Orps

[Adolph Otto]

Hi All,
After losing one of three 7 month-old English Orps a week ago to a hawk, we have a new pullet. She's a 3-4 month old Australorp. She's about 3/4 the size of the 2 existing. Here's what I've been doing.
Both nights we've had her, she's slept in a crate in our basement.

Sunday was the first contact with the "flock." Understandably, she was very nervous after the hour long car ride and such a big change. In the absurd hopes of having a "Nice to meet you. Welcome to your new family" kind of greeting, I quickly remembered these are chickens I'm dealing with! As I suspected would really happen, the boss (April) started right in pecking, which, in turn, prompted the other (May) to do the same. I have a pen adjacent to a soon-to-be replaced raised coop with a small run underneath. I put the new bird in that small run so they could see each other for the rest of the day.

Yesterday, I brought her out early and she went immediately up into the coop and roosted. I let her be for a few hours, and then put her underneath, so she could be seen and heard. I then let in May hen and was somewhat pleasantly surprised that she didn't attack. However, the little bird was extremely frightened, so I took May out. A little later, I let out the new bird and May, and, although 8-10 feet apart, pecked around in the vicinity of the coop and pen. So then I let out April and she was somewhat indifferent, but again, the little one is terrified of her and ran, which caused April to give chase.

Today, same thing. Took her out early and she is up in the coop roosting as I write. My questions: What are my next steps? What have I done wrong/right?
Thanks very much.
Steve

 

[IvysAnimals]

If you want to introduce other chickens, it's good to have them in crates before you put them together just so crazy fights don't break out. As long as they're all getting along, everything should be fine!

 

[NatJ]

I don't see a problem with what you have tried so far. Based on the fact that the younger one does run from the older ones, who do then chase her, you might try some or all of these ideas:

Assuming your various coops and pens are predator-proof, let her sleep outside instead of bringing her into the basement each night.

Try letting them live next to each other (adjacent pens) for longer, maybe an entire week, before you try actually putting them together again. That can let her become more comfortable around them, because they cannot actually chase her and they definitely cannot hurt her. If she acts comfortable and confident, they are less likely to chase her. And if they do not chase her, she is more able to feel and act comfortable.

You could also switch their pens at some point, so she is alone to explore her new home, while the older birds are in the adjacent pen.

When you do put them together again, it might make sense to put just one of the older hens with the new one, and wait a day or two before putting in the other one. That way the new one isn't outnumbered right away.

 

[Adolph Otto]

I don't see a problem with what you have tried so far. Based on the fact that the younger one does run from the older ones, who do then chase her, you might try some or all of these ideas:

Assuming your various coops and pens are predator-proof, let her sleep outside instead of bringing her into the basement each night.

Try letting them live next to each other (adjacent pens) for longer, maybe an entire week, before you try actually putting them together again. That can let her become more comfortable around them, because they cannot actually chase her and they definitely cannot hurt her. If she acts comfortable and confident, they are less likely to chase her. And if they do not chase her, she is more able to feel and act comfortable.

You could also switch their pens at some point, so she is alone to explore her new home, while the older birds are in the adjacent pen.

When you do put them together again, it might make sense to put just one of the older hens with the new one, and wait a day or two before putting in the other one. That way the new one isn't outnumbered right away.

Great ideas. Thanks. I would love to put her out in the pen, but I don't trust it at night. I use it now exclusively in the day. The run underneath, however, is safe. My only concern with that is the wind. It's been in the 20s at night, but the wind chill I would guess is low teens. She is not as fully feathered as the other 2.

 

[Adolph Otto]

If you want to introduce other chickens, it's good to have them in crates before you put them together just so crazy fights don't break out. As long as they're all getting along, everything should be fine!

It certainly is teaching me patience!

 

[NatJ]

I would love to put her out in the pen, but I don't trust it at night. I use it now exclusively in the day.

That makes sense.

The run underneath, however, is safe. My only concern with that is the wind. It's been in the 20s at night, but the wind chill I would guess is low teens. She is not as fully feathered as the other 2.

She definitely should not be sleeping in a heavy wind, but maybe you can cover part of the sides, so she can sleep there in comfort. Or just keep bringing her in at night, until it is safe to put her with the others.

Not as fully feathered? At 3-4 months old, I would expect her to have a full set of feathers all over her body, which should be enough to keep her warm in those temperatures after she has gotten used to them.

 

[Adolph Otto]

OK, problem solved. I took an adjustable gate that goes in a doorway for dogs, kids, etc., and divided the coop right in half. The new bird's in the back and May & June up front. There's a roost bar in each section,. so all's good. I plan on going out in a while and see if everybody's settled in. Thanks, all!

 

[Adolph Otto]

I thought I'd provide an update in the interest of helping others who may be in a similar situation.

I had a pre-fab coop. I was starting to really feel bad about the cramped conditions. Primarily. the head-space over the insufficient roosts. My two, 8-month old hens just seemed uncomfortable.

As I noted, I had a barrier in this coop in order to separate the new 4-month Australorp. I would let the 2 hens out into the run in the morning, and let the new bird down into the run under the raised coop, which was in view of the run. I would let them out every day to forage for a while. The little one was very wary and skittish of the other two, but would approach the other 2 to within 2 or 3 yards, but then run away when either of the hens started toward her.

I then, after about 2-3 weeks, removed the barrier in the coop. It was just making it that much smaller for the big hens. To my surprise, aside from a scuffle now and then, they actually began to roost together. I was still concerned about the size of the coop, so I moved up my plans for a springtime build, and started the project a couple of weeks ago. I converted a 4x5 corner of my large (16x12) shed into a coop, which has a nice big window and plenty of vertical headroom. Boy, do they seem happier!

Getting back to the integration; it has been 6 weeks since I got the new pullet, and they are really progressing. One of the hens has basically completely accepted the pullet, foraging with her, and showing very little signs of pecking or chasing. The queen, well, she has a little way to go. She still gives short chase once in a while when foraging, but muc less. I witnessed them yesterday dust bathing, with the new bird only about a foot away from the other 2. That was a big development.

At night things are much calmer. The pullet roosts on the lower bars, and in the morning I don't come out to any more overturned feeders and waterers. That's nice.

 

[Adolph Otto]

I did forget to add: In the confinement of the run (8x8), the young one is still solitary, remaining on a dedicated perch away from the other two. It is only the boss that really won't let her spend too much time on the ground in there.