Integration.....loads of feathers everywhere. Suggestions please?

[jandrusrn]

Two one year olds have been doing the "look don't touch" with the juniors. We have waited until the juniors are 3 months before we integrated them in the yard. We have had to break up a ton of fights, beakfulls of feathers..... One of them is particularly brutal... I have a Barred Rock that is quite a B&^%H. Please anyone.... suggestions?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

3 months may be a bit young for integration, especially if one of your hens is on the meaner side. I like to wait until everyone is roughly the same size, that way they all have equal footing if they're duking it out. My next suggestion, if you're not wanting to separate them again, is to leave them to go at it (under supervison, of course). Whenever you introduce new flock members there is always going to be some fighting. Tons of fights and beakfulls of feathers are pretty normal under these circumstances, in my opinion. So are things like bloodied combs and wattles. But, picking to the point of causing open wounds and severe stress is not. Maybe start the introductions while they are free ranging (if you do that) or provide them with a hanging cabbage or some scratch to give them something else to peck. Good luck, integration has always been a stressful time for me- but this too shall pass!

 

[Eggsoteric]

3 mos. sounds a bit young, however, I'll tell you what I did when I had to reintegrate a hen back into her flock after having been treated for a fungal infection. I don't know what your set up is, but, I have several pens so it made what I did easier.

When I placed her back with her flock, a number of her flockmates went after her. One-by-one, I removed the "bullies," placed them in another pen and left her with one of the more docile flockmates. (My pens abut one another so everyone could see each other thru the fencing.) I then slowly reintroduced the bullies back into their pen one-by-one over a period of about a week or so and all ended well.

Good luck. Integrating can be stressful.

 

[what did I do]

I am intergeading chicks that are 2 months old into a flock of pullets and later older chickens. Mine free ranged for a few weeks in the same area as the older pullets. I have moved the younger chicks into the coop with the pullets but I lock them in a pet carrier over night. I let them out in the morning after the others leave the coop - they rush out in the morning so it isn't hard. I have a food and water near where the younger chicks hangout. Then at night put them back into the pet carrier. We are on day two. Today the young chicks were checking out the feeding station where all the other chickens feed. There is a little pecking but not much. I suspect I will have to put the chicks into the coop for a week or more before they go in on their own. I will leave the pet carrier in the coop until they are roosting with the others. Good luck.

 

[Campesina]

My situation is similar. Thank you for your post. Love the pet carrier idea. Thanks again.

 

[jandrusrn]

I am intergeading chicks that are 2 months old into a flock of pullets and later older chickens. Mine free ranged for a few weeks in the same area as the older pullets. I have moved the younger chicks into the coop with the pullets but I lock them in a pet carrier over night. I let them out in the morning after the others leave the coop - they rush out in the morning so it isn't hard. I have a food and water near where the younger chicks hangout. Then at night put them back into the pet carrier. We are on day two. Today the young chicks were checking out the feeding station where all the other chickens feed. There is a little pecking but not much. I suspect I will have to put the chicks into the coop for a week or more before they go in on their own. I will leave the pet carrier in the coop until they are roosting with the others. Good luck.

Great stuff everyone.... we've been doing this.... kinda for about a week. I know this may be nuts, but, let's face it. They're gonna be together.

 

[jandrusrn]

3 mos. sounds a bit young, however, I'll tell you what I did when I had to reintegrate a hen back into her flock after having been treated for a fungal infection. I don't know what your set up is, but, I have several pens so it made what I did easier.

When I placed her back with her flock, a number of her flockmates went after her. One-by-one, I removed the "bullies," placed them in another pen and left her with one of the more docile flockmates. (My pens abut one another so everyone could see each other thru the fencing.) I then slowly reintroduced the bullies back into their pen one-by-one over a period of about a week or so and all ended well.

Good luck. Integrating can be stressful.

I knew we were pushing it with the 3 month wees, but with all the slow integration in the yard over the last 6 weeks or so, sheesh, you'd think they would have realized it was coming. Ummmmm, guess I was hoping for too much.

 

[jandrusrn]

Things today seem to be a bit better..... fewer feathers on the ground, and I'm convinced it's due to the "chicken jail" separation we did over the last couple of days. The old grumpy Barred Rock has mellowed slightly, and after all, that's just what we need is a more mellow hen. She is pecking and chasing much less, and goes into jail if the fights get too awful. I'm sure my idea of awful isn't anything like everyone else's idea of awful... but still, so stressful.

Thanks

 

[what did I do]

I knew we were pushing it with the 3 month wees, but with all the slow integration in the yard over the last 6 weeks or so, sheesh, you'd think they would have realized it was coming.  Ummmmm, guess I was hoping for too much.

My little ones are only 2 months old. They were hatched the end of June.but it has to happen, they have to be recooped. We are having a problem with the rooster that was supposed to go but got away. We home to remove him today.

 

[donrae]

They're going to have to sort things out eventually. My rule is no blood, no foul. Make sure they have enough space and barriers to hide behind and break like of sight--with chickens out of sight can really be out of mind lol.