integrating pullets

[Tgmcr]

We have 6 pullets that just turned 14 weeks, they are currently kept in a different coop than our 7 laying hens. they are starting to outgrow their current coop, plus it is getting much colder here so I would like to get them all into the big new coop we built.
I have never integrated chickens before, so i'm not exactly sure what to do. I've watched a couple videos and done some research but want to make sure I do it right.
We do occasionally let the hens out to free range in the yard and they have walked over to the pullets coop and checked them out, and both coops are close enough that they are always able to see and hear each other during the day.
How do you recommend introducing them all into the same coop?

 

[Mrs. K]

You are nearly even, old birds and new birds, which will make this much better. The more new birds you add, the better. What I would do, is flip the birds, putting the new birds in the big set up, and the old birds where you have the pullets. This allows the pullets to explore the new to them coop without being chased for their lives. If you can, leave them a couple of days.

Then let the old birds back into the set up as near as possible to dark. There may be some scuffles, but I would expect them to roost up.

Take a good look at your run. Is there multiple feed stations, are their hideouts, roosts, platforms, places where birds can get out of sight. That will help tremendously. Many people have open flat two dimensional runs, where as a bird can see any other bird from anywhere in the run. There is no use of vertical space. Roosts, pallets, platforms, tunnels, old furniture, ladders, totes, or cardboard boxes, will make the run look cluttered, but it will be much more interesting to all your birds.

An occasional mind you manners peck, is normal. By adding numerous new birds, it spreads the pecking out over them all. Once in a while you will get a rather mean old biddy, with the second set up, I would put any mean birds in there, and let them cool their jets, while the others figure things out for a couple of days to a week.

Do not expect them to be one loving flock, they will be two flocks that tolerate each other peacefully. The pullets will be a sub flock that is quite noticeable until they begin to lay, and then the sub flock division just disappears, and they will become one flock.

Mrs K

 

[pennyJo1960]

I actually take birds new in at night putting them on roost lot less running around and that way they out together

 

[FortCluck]

I usually let new ones in a 30x40 ft dog kennel that's attached to my fenced in free range area. I keep them in there for 2 weeks with their own coop to sleep in then I let them out after the 2 weeks into the free range area. Usually there's no fighting or anything because they can see each other but not touch.

I had two Polish that could fly over the 8ft high kennel so I put them in the big coop where all my chickens go. They hung out in there for a few hours and ran out and my chickens thought they were always there because no one attacked them or anything.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x FortCluck ... It's been recommended the "See but no touch" is the safest way to integrate newbies. Another is the wire cage in the coop or sectioning off part of the coop for the newbies. This is when I wish I had more space

 

[Ridgerunner]

You don't get guarantees with the behaviors of living animals. Sometimes these go so smoothly you wonder what the concern was. Sometimes there are disasters. There are things you can do to improve your odds but nothing that is no ironclad guarantee. I think part of that is managing your expectations. I have three goals when I integrate. 1) No one gets seriously hurt 2) They do not sleep in nests and 3) They sleep somewhere predator safe. If they don't want to hang together, that's fine. That part will come with time.

There are a lot of different ways you could go about this. You could just throw them together. It might work, especially if you have a lot of room. Or it may not, even with a lot of room. Since yours have been able to see each other that's not real horrible, but I would not do that. I think you have better options.

You mention that the older hens free range, at least some of the time. I'd let the pullets out to range at the same time. They will probably stay in separate groups, at least mostly. I'd be OK with them returning to separate coops to sleep for a while. Once they have established that they can roam without open warfare being declared you can try moving them into the main coop. I don't know how big that run is around the main coop, hopefully big enough you can lock them all in there. Provide widely separated feeding and watering stations. You can improve the quality of what space you have in the coop and in the run by providing clutter. Give them places to hide under, behind, and over.

The way I would do it would be to wait until dark and move the pullets into the main coop. I jut set them on the coop floor when I do that, I do not worry about putting them on the roosts. As long as that coop is dark they should not have any problems. Be there at first light so you can open the pop door in case there are issues but leave them all locked in the run. That way your older hens have access to their nests if they are laying. Do this when you can be around and observe.

The pullets may go into the new coop to sleep, especially if they cannot get back to their old coop. They may try to sleep outside in the run. If they do that, after it is dark toss them back in the coop and lock them in there until the next morning. They should get the message pretty fast. If your main coop is so small they can't avoid the older hens that may be a lot harder.

This is fairly close to how I do it. I have a lot of room inside and out ad I do it before 14 weeks. Your facilities and flock are different from mine, I don't know how well this will work for you. However you try it get back with us. If you have issues maybe we can help. If you don't have issues, we like good news.