Integrating

[Junglyjules]

Morning,

New to these forums just looking for some advice.

I have 3 hens (2 ex bat 2.5 yrs, 1 black leghorn 1 year)

I’ve got a Poland and a silkie point of lay 3.5 weeks ago.

I have a coop in a fenced area plenty of room for them. I did the keeping them separate in a dog crate for the first week. To see each other and then kept the old in the coop cage and allowed The new to explore the fenced area for a few days.

We’re now at a point where they will all roam around however still some chasing of the new ones but they know where to run and hide.
However at bedtime they still go to their dog crate and I’ve tried adding them when the others are asleep but they rile up and all wake up and peck and the new ones run out.
The leghorn is broody and is also a bit of a bully I’ve segregated her at times but not sure if the broodiness is hindering integration as she riles up when anyone goes near her.

The silkie is quite timid and the Poland is the braver of the two. She’s started laying and I find eggs in random places sometimes they’ve run free round the garden.
Do I just leave them as they are or should I encourage them to sleep together in the main coop & separate again if there’s injuries?
Thanks.

 

[Mrs. K]

You might make either a separate roost, maybe a little lower than the big girls roost. Or divide the big girls roost by taping up a piece of cardboard so that birds on one side of the cardboard cannot reach birds on the other side.

However, you might make a nest on the floor. It is my understanding that silkies and polish often don't roost. And I have also read that sometimes they will not do well with a full size flock. A lot depends on the coop/run that you are trying to introduce them too.

 

[aart]

The leghorn is broody and is also a bit of a bully I’ve segregated her at times but not sure if the broodiness is hindering integration as she riles up when anyone goes near her.

This could definitely be part of the problem.
Is the broody in the main coop, when is she due to hatch?
How big is your coop?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, would be most helpful.
Having separate and lower roosts can help the newbs have someplace 'safer' to roost.
Putting up separaters, panels to block sight, on the roost can help too.
When you put the new ones on the roost, best to do this well after dark.
Once newbs start laying they usually meld into the flock, but time is also a factor and 3-4 weeks is not long at all.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Junglyjules
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Junglyjules]

Profile updated
A couple of photos of our set up.
The silkie and Poland are sleeping in a cat box hanging inside the dog crate (all supposed to be temporary) weather has been fine recently but due a lot of rain and it’s not very waterproof so worried especially the silkie getting too wet overnight.
I’ve got an eglu 2m cage but we usually leave that open and just shut the coop at night. The broody hen is mostly in the coop she has been out occasionally and I’ve tried letting her free range and the others who are less bothered by the new hens stay in with them to reset pecking order.


if 3-4 weeks is still early that’s ok just happened a lot quicker last time.
I could try the cardboard in the coop trick need to consider layout internally.
Also to add I have two food and 3 water bowls.

 

[Junglyjules]

I also let them free range when I can however I have young children who just love to tread in chicken poop!
I have tried some treats like lettuce to distract the older hens. The young hens quite like hiding behind the food store which I’m happy for them to do but just worry they spend a lot of time sat there.
Thanks for your help with this.

 

[aart]

Ohhh, not sure 5 birds will fit in that coop.
Hard to integrate with small spaces.
Tight quarters even for 3 when 1 is a crabby broody!
Is the broody sitting on eggs...due to hatch when?

 

[nao57]

I'm not an expert. Feel free to take others advise before mine.

But when I watch Youtube videos it sounds like they are keeping the broody hens (both ducks and chickens) separate from the main flock when they sitting on eggs (real not fake eggs).

So you could try swapping things with the broody and her clutch out instead of in. (And it will take a few days to get used to this on changes.)

And it will be tricky to move the eggs without upsetting the broody hen too much. I wish you luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You have a lot going on. I agree space is tight and will get tighter when that hen hatches. But your main question seems to be about sleeping arrangements.

What harm are you seeing or thinking about with them sleeping apart? What are your concerns? Typically my pullets don't sleep on the same roosts as the adults until they start to lay, within a few weeks anyway. You are approaching that point. Unless you have some issues I'm not aware of I'd just be a while longer. Give those pullets time to mature into mature hens. Often giving them time to mature solves a lot of these problems.

 

[Junglyjules]

The broody hen last laid on 6th June so 9 days ago. I don’t have a cockerel so I remove the eggs the others lay. This is only the second time she’s been broody the previous time it took a month before she laid and was back to normal.

My main issue with them sleeping separately is the weather proofing they don’t need to sleep together per se other than the eglu is secure and watertight over night.
I’m happy to give them more time to integrate and get along I would rather take the time than have any injured chickens but just wondered if there was anything I’m missing or how long I should expect this to
take.

I might try the cardboard division trick while the weather is due to be rainy. The old hens always sleep cuddled together in one corner.
Broody hen didn’t like being in chicken prison last week and escaped everytime I topped up food and water!

 

[nao57]

Actually if space is a concern then why not build UP instead?

I should have suggested this earlier. I've heard of people stacking quail cages. No reason you couldn't find an adaptation for chickens also.