Integration question

[Karalyn]

Kind of long-I apologize in advance.

I have a 40' x 40' fenced area for my chickens, with a 20' x 20' separate area fenced off inside of there. Both areas have their own coop and feed and water stations. I currently have 6 hens and 2 roos (He-Man & Little-Man, about 5 months old) that reside out there. They have full access to both areas. Inside my house I have 7 new chicks (4 about 8 weeks old, 3 about 5 weeks). I've had the first 4 for about 3 weeks, just got the others 3 days ago. They are currently working out the pecking order. I plan on keeping them inside until the younger ones are old enough to go outside permanently, then move them all into the smaller area (I call it the "baby corral") and keep them separate from the older birds for a few months.
The question I have is-could I put Little-Man in the baby corral so that they would become his "flock"? He-Man is a little bigger and seems to be the alpha rooster. There hasn't been any aggression towards each other, which is why I still have them both.
I'm thinking that if I can integrate Little-Man safely with the new ones, then he will establish himself as the leader, and when I open the areas up both roosters will have their own little flocks and be happy.
My main concern is that I'm afraid he might try to mount them before they are sexually mature and possibly hurt them. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Spiderduck]

My chicks are ready to go out with the others when their mums push them off. So about 3-4 months.

And maybe leave the young chicks on their own for a while and then introduce little man to them as he might scare them. He is older.

Keep the chicks on their own for a while until they are about 5-6 months maybe more then they start laying and little man can have one flock and he man can have the other. But keep it closed off as 2 roos in a confined space wont get along well.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

My main concern is that I'm afraid he might try to mount them before they are sexually mature and possibly hurt them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Very valid concern...or just attack them outright.

Just to be sure I understand the situation... your 6 pullets and 2 cockerels (not hens and roosters until one year old) are 5 months old and all have access to the 2 areas and coops described above...there are no other chickens out there?? A pic sure would help.
Can those two areas/coops be separated so you can put the new chicks in one of them?

The chicks inside are ready to go out, they don't need heat by 5wks old and would probably more quickly establish pecking order with more space.

Also wonder what is your plan for the 2 cockerels?
Do you need 2?
2 might work out or might not.

Maybe your 6 females are older...not sure...but why:
FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks is also a good thing to note.

 

[Karalyn]

Welcome to BYC!

Very valid concern...or just attack them outright.

Just to be sure I understand the situation... your 6 pullets and 2 cockerels (not hens and roosters until one year old) are 5 months old and all have access to the 2 areas and coops described above...there are no other chickens out there?? A pic sure would help.
Can those two areas/coops be separated so you can put the new chicks in one of them?

The chicks inside are ready to go out, they don't need heat by 5wks old and would probably more quickly establish pecking order with more space.

Also wonder what is your plan for the 2 cockerels?
Do you need 2?
2 might work out or might not.

Maybe your 6 females are older...not sure...but why:
FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks is also a good thing to note.

IMG_0048

• Karalyn
• Sep 13, 2017

 

[Karalyn]

There is a door separating the two areas that can be closed. I currently have it propped open so the birds can have access to that area. There's more shade in that part of the yard. They spend most of the day in and around the blue coop, and that's where the three that lay lay their eggs. They sleep in the brown coop. I'm hoping there won't be any problems with them using the other coop to lay their eggs in once they lose access to the blue coop.

As for the ages of the ones outside- I have one hen that's 2 years old, one pullet that's 9 months, 4 pullets that are 5 months and the two cockerels that are around 6 months.

It was never my intention to have roosters, I saw these 3 older chicks (approx. 2 months old) at the store, felt sorry for them and brought them home. All three ended up being cockerels. I rehomed one of them (before knowing the third was male also). I don't need them, but they are beautiful (feather-footed Copper Marans) and I would like to keep them if possible. If I start having problems then one of them will be finding a new home. I'm hoping that if I can give both of my guys their own little flock of ladies to be in charge of they will be less inclined to become aggressive with each other, and us humans.

 

[Spiderduck]

Wow your coop looks wonderful!

Seperation is the only way you can have 2 happy cockrels im afraid.

The girls should learn to lay their eggs in the other coop because after a while of moaning they cant get into the other coop so they have no choice but to lay there.

I know how you feel about cockerels they are beautiful.

To keep my cockrel calm around humans- he was born here to a broody mother. I used to play with him every day and call him a good boy. When he was older. Like around a year he was still as friendly as ever and i think he understod me when i called him a good boy.

 

[aart]

I'd put the cockerels in with the older girls,
and get the chicks outside into the other enclosure.
Keep those two groups separate for a few weeks before letting them physically meet.

Time will tell if you can keep both cockerels without them fighting or competitively over-mating the girls. I'd have something ready to isolate one or both of those young boys in case things go badly, if they do go bad it usually is fast and furious, so yet another enclosure or a couple crates(I find these foldable wire crates incredibly useful as a chickeneer).

Best of cLuck!