I have tried to integrate my two flocks overnight. However when I went out there there was much fighting involving pinning them to the ground. Is there any way to reduce these fights?
Hi! If they were just introduced overnight, they may not have gotten a chance to get used to each other. I would suggest that you separate them and treat any open wounds with Blu-Kote so it will conceal the red color that would encourage even more pecking. Then, just allow the two flocks to interact with a fence in between them and just allow them to get used to each other. When they are able to interact like this calmly, then you can free range them under your supervision. The extra space will allow them to get away from each other and there are also more distractions than in the coop or run, so they will be less focused on each other. If you see any bullying, you can shake a soup can filled with pennies and rocks with duct tape over the top. They hate the noise, so it should make them stop. After they've done this a few times, and they are used to each other, you can put the birds into the flock. Oh and here is a great article on integrating flocks. Good luck!
Yeah, that "put the new ones in after dark and in the morning the existing birds won't even notice the new ones are there" rarely works out. Like bobbie-j sez: "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid." Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration This is good place to start reading: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
A lot depends on the size of the birds, and the size of the flocks. I have had fair luck in putting mature birds together overnight, but I have always added several at a time, and got down early the next day and let things out to free range. If your adding flock is smaller in size, and in a lot fewer numbers than the original flock, and an open, bare run, there will be problems. Another thing you can do, is let the original flock out to free range and lock them out, and let the new ones in the coop/run so that they can explore hide outs, find their way around the set up, and eat and drink there without being attacked. Mrs K
