Integration Will Soon Happen...Help Needed

[meetthebubus]

What's the age difference and how long were they out there together just seeing each other?

the ee's were there seperated from 6 weeks to 3 1/2 months old so about 2 months see no touch when they were about the same size is when I put them together if you don't have lots of space, outside perches are excellent for the chickens to go for time outs, to get away from aggression mostly worry about food, water, shade and maybe be prepared to stay for the first hour or two to see how things go to see if they are ready and just supervise


See I think after a few weeks chickens forget what their life was like before seeing the little ones so to them they are old news when they come over and mine were excited bc they got access once again to "new" areas to explore

Excellent job @meetthebubus! That’s how it’s supposed to work. (Love the EE’s. I’ve got quite a few of them too.) Perfect setup for the “see but no touch” segregation.

thanks! I was nervous how the 2 roosters would get along but they are good boys ...ee's are lots of fun, glad I have them

 

[GreenJungleFowl]

So I have two groups. First group is 17 weeks, that would be two girls(barred rock and RIR) and one boy(silver lace)(there is a second boy(leghorn) that was removed a couple weeks ago and is now in the house until I can make him his own area). The second group is about 11-12 weeks--4 girls(3 brahmas and I believe 1 golden lace)

For the last month the younger ones have spent their days in the coop enclosure with a gate up and their nights in a carrier in the coop with the bigger ones.

The bigger ones still seem to find great joy in antagonizing the smaller ones. At this time at least I know they are safe from them. Some of the noises the barred rock makes are not what I would call friendly. Other days I see them laying up against the coop along with the young ones(wire in between)

I'm off of work for a couple days the week after next. What is the best way to put these guys together originally? Do I just open the gate and let the circus begin? I'm so stressed about this because a couple weeks one came out and the boy pinned her. He is normally pretty gentile. I was caught off guard completely. I'm not great at listening to them sound like they are getting pecked to death.

Help? Advise?

If you can free range them together that would be a good way of intergrating them. At least that’s what I did.

 

[Dmontgomery]

Do I step in or let them figure it out?

If they are just pecking at each other or chasing a short distance, don’t interfere. If somebody gets jumped on and held down, break up the fight. If a fight lasts more than a few seconds, somebody could get seriously injured. You don’t want bloodshed but a couple plucked feathers will grow back.