Integrating pullets - good plan?

[Gwhite3678]

I have a flock of 11 hens who range from 3-1 years old. The last time new members were added was when a broody hen raised them so that was all hands off and went fine although those three still mostly stick together.
I have 6 pullets I have in a brooder still but plan to put them in the coop at 8-10 weeks of age.
I have a “chicken jail” area in the coop that I am planning on keeping them in at all times for about a week so everyone can see each other and then will let them out into the main flock with supervision.
I don’t really have means of sectioning off the run or adding a temp coop at the moment.
Does this seem like a reasonsble plan?

 

[TooCheep]

That sounds good. The only thing I would add would be to have some clutter in the run to give the new ones a way to retreat from the others until things smooth out.

A cluttered run

 

[FrostRanger]

Sounds perfect and I agree with what @TooCheep said about adding clutter too. I wish you luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old are the pullets now? I'd do it earlier if at all possible, to try and take advantage of their smaller size.

How big is the coop and the run?

 

[Gwhite3678]

How old are the pullets now? I'd do it earlier if at all possible, to try and take advantage of their smaller size.

How big is the coop and the run?

Oh interesting, I thought it would be better if they were bigger to be able to defend themselves if needed and not be as picked on.

The run is 10x20 approx and the coop I believe is 8x12
They usually get let out to free range around 1 in the afternoon

 

[Gwhite3678]

That sounds good. The only thing I would add would be to have some clutter in the run to give the new ones a way to retreat from the others until things smooth out.

A cluttered run

Yes, I’m trying to get some different items together for the run for them to be able to hide
I have some roosts in there now and old stumps and things but want to build some teepee like things they can run in

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh interesting, I thought it would be better if they were bigger to be able to defend themselves if needed and not be as picked on.

A lot of folks think that way but adult birds are also less threatened by younger, smaller chicks and the majority will simply ignore them. And smaller birds fit into tinier spaces so you can take advantage of that by creating openings that are too small for the adults to fit in, thus creating safe zones for chicks only. I begin see but no touch integration as soon as I get chicks with the goal of finishing at around 4 weeks or so.

If you're interested in trying early integration, my integration process is covered about halfway down this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[FrostRanger]

There are different philosophies, but in most cases I would opt for starting the integration process sooner rather than later. Younger chicks are seen as less of a threat and are more nimble than older birds. The downside of course is injury is more likely so if one's flock is particularly aggressive I would lean on waiting until older to let them mingle, however I would still start see but no touch as young as possible. I had to integrate my current batch with a semi-aggressive hen (who has sadly since passed. She was a crabby girl but she was my crabby girl) and I started see but no touch at 2 weeks. Took a bit for Parsley to play nice enough to a level I was good with but we got there

 

[McChooky]

I keep my pullets separated from the flock(edit :In a look but not touch run that's attached to theirs) They have their own coop and run until they're laying age and mature enough to mate the rooster. Then I add them to the flock and free range them.

 

[Gwhite3678]

Thank you all for the information, I think I’ll get them out in the coop sooner than later then in the sectioned off space. Will be nice to get them out of the workshop too!