Integration is a lot like high school

[Happy Chooks]

You have the "cool" kids and the "not cool" kids. And the "not cool" kids better not hang out with the "cool kids". So the "not cool" crowd spends the day huddled in the corner of the coop, while the "cool" ones roam the run. The "cool" kids decide to be mean to the "not cool" kids and beat them up. And all hell breaks loose when the "not cool" ones get on the roost first.

Sounds like high school all over again, doesn't it? How long until they get along peacefully? There's been no wounds, but my big bad rooster turned into a big bad wimp when the fence wasn't there to protect him. Gosh, getting beat up by a girl.

 

[1lpoock]

Sounds exactly like high school haha....and then there is you, the teacher, that is scolding them for fighting...

 

[gritsar]

The roost fights at night are the worst. Just when I think I've got everyone settled and quiet, I lock the door and walk away; only to hear crashing sounds coming from the coop.

 

[HEChicken]

Yep - sounds a lot like high school. In my experience, integration took about three months but I stirred things up by processing my roo, so it might have taken longer if he were still around, since he was the worst one picking on the newcomers.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Hehe, I've integrated a couple times now with younger ones, and yep, it's like highschool. Nighttime is entertaining chaos. The girls get up on the roost first squabble over who gets to go where, then the main roo heads up to the roost. He yells at all the ladies to simmer down which actually makes things worse. THEN just when you think everyone settles down, one jumps off and the whole chaotic process starts all over again.

Bluemoon

 

[JimWWhite]

Sounds more like my junior high school. When I was young we moved quite often so I found myself in the Uncool Group at every new school I went to. When you're the new kid the only people who'd dare talk to you are those who are already in the Uncool Group. So upon see this then the Cool Group said "Well, there's proof he's uncool too!" But last summer and fall when we added our second six and third seven pullets to the flock, the newcomers reminded me of me when I found myself uprooted. I did notice one thing though. In the second group of six there was one young pullet who was the omega hen and she was picked on unmercifully by everyone else. It got to the point we started giving her treats off to the side so she'd be sure to get something. We took to calling her Ellen. She quickly became our pet and made the others even more envious of her and that only exaserbated her plight. But, when we added the last seven pullets to our flock Ellen made it her mission in life to make their lives at least as miserable as hers had been. She became the flock's enforcer and is now one of the Cool Group. Nobody picks on Ellen any more.

And in that, I guess the circle is complete.

 

[gryeyes]

Wonderful. I "get" to integrate 2 older hens into my group. I take 'em home today and put 'em in their own coop, which is inside the run where everybody else will be milling about. Looking through the hardware wire at them, taunting them, I bet.

But I'm still excited about getting the new pullets (from SunnyDawn).

 

[greenbeandreams]

Ahhh, something to look forward to. I'm introducing my two new pullets to the two big girls next week.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Gosh, I hope it doesn't take that long!!!! Otherwise, they will just get settled and I'll have to add the Ameraucana's to them. Then it will be all in a tizzy again.

Jim......that's great that the underdog (chicken) became top chicken. I'm hoping that these new ones will give my RIR a buddy. She's usually off by herself since we lost our BO.