Integration of single pullet into small flock.

[centrarchid]

Quote:
That is how I do it as well, under typical conditions, but if I understood correctly OP already attempted.

 

[myfivegirls]

A little over a month ago, I was given a pullet (age not known) that was molting, and I introduced it to my flock of 12. First, I put her in a cage in the fenced-in yard where the other girls were. They were very interested, and acted like they wanted to attack her through the cage. They even "roosted" on the top of the cage during the day. The new gal was obviously scared, but she was protected by the other girls by the cage. Later on in the day (I wouldn't recommend this normally, but I thought I'd give it a try), I let her out of the cage while the other girls were in another part of the yard. They did a little chasing, but there was plenty of space for the newbie to hide or run.
I can't remember exactly what I did for that night, but I think after rescuing her from under the coop, I put her in the cage in the coop. She went back out with the flock the next morning, and the second night, I think, I just put her loose in the coop. Of course, there was chasing and pecking, but she found that the nesting box was a good place to hide. The only problem with that, I found, was that she left deposits that got on the eggs in the morning.

But, now they've worked things out, and everyone seems to get along just fine. There's still one that will peck her more than the others, but primarily she is able to get along.

When I introduced the 11 pullets to the four hens that I had at the time this summer, I did things a little more carefully, though. First, I put the small girls in a cage inside the big chicken's yard. After a week or so, I expanded the pullets' area using chicken wire. Once they were bigger, I made a small "hole" in the wire for the young ones to go in and out at will, without the big ones being able to get in the little one's yard. Eventually, I let them all out together. It took me a little longer for them to share the same coop, but they eventually worked everything out.

The suggestions that have been made, I think, would be great in your situation. I just wanted to share my experience.

 

[fl_deb]

No, I had not tried the cage in the run because I thought the bigger girls would gang up and put their heads through the cage (Lg Dog Cage) and would pluck her feathers out, at least, if not bloody her again.

I had tried the 3 weeks of free ranging with all and then finally letting her go to bed with only 1 of the big girls (I took the other two and put them in cage), which ended in a bloody mess.

I tried it again (another 2 weeks free ranging together) with a different one (big girl) and she was bloodied again.

I didn't try this method again, because the only bird I had not placed her with, was the one that tried to go through me, to get at the new girl, and I figured it would be just a waste of time.

So, my next plan of action, based on your advice would be:

A) Just put her cage in the run for a few weeks.

OR

B) Put her cage in the run where it will split the current flock into 2 groups= a coop group and a run group and even perhaps rotate who is where, daily, since I have an odd man out situation.



Obviously, the A option is easier to managed, but B maybe more effective in resolving this issue.

What do you all think would be the fastest method?

Forgive me, my lack of patience at this point, but I have had indoor chicken enough to know that I have been healed and saved from getting more chickens for a long time(spring is a long time away right?

)


And you all have been great! Thank you for the help and advice.