Integration help!

[ANiceKaren]

Are both coops open the the 20x20 run?
Just close off the smaller coop.
Tho the larger coop appears to be rather open?
Maybe a pic from farther back would be good.

Yeah... both coops are in the run. They free range most of the day however.

 

[IamRainey]

My experience is that they'll work it out over time.

The first time I integrated chickens I thought the best result I'd ever have was 2 flocks living under one roof. And I was glad they'd gotten past the Mean Girl stuff to achieve that level of detente.

Today it's all one big peaceful family. The pullets from my most current integration still prefer their own company. One hen will occasionally send another one scurrying. But there's no blood and no clear victim or bully so my strategy is to let them be chickens.

Why do you have 2 coops? Are you OK with that arrangement?

 

[ANiceKaren]

My experience is that they'll work it out over time.

The first time I integrated chickens I thought the best result I'd ever have was 2 flocks living under one roof. And I was glad they'd gotten past the Mean Girl stuff to achieve that level of detente.

Today it's all one big peaceful family. The pullets from my most current integration still prefer their own company. One hen will occasionally send another one scurrying. But there's no blood and no clear victim or bully so my strategy is to let them be chickens.

Why do you have 2 coops? Are you OK with that arrangement?

Thank you! I have 2 coops only because my first prefab one is soooo small! A friend gave me a second one. It just kind of happens that my older girls got used to first small one I have and younger girls started using the other coop. I’d like to have them all in big coop because it’s nicer and has many roosting opportunities but my older girls aren’t used to sleeping in it so I haven’t tried putting them in it yet. I’m fine with sleeping in separate coops but just want girls comfy!

 

[IamRainey]

My guess is they'd move through it faster if they live in one coop (provided it's large enough) and get down to it and over it. But that's really nothing more than a guess. I've only ever had one coop and run and yard for everyone.