Integration! Yay!

[heronchick]

I finally took down my chicken wire dividers in my coop and run over the weekend and integrated my flock. I have 3 pullets - an ayam cemani, a cuckoo maran, and a cross white rock/RIR who is THE sweetest bird ever. The Ayam is dear too. Anyway... the other two hens, a white rock and a New Hampshire were transitionally pretty rotten. The NH managed to trap the two black chickens in a pocket corner under the coop and was doing her best to kill them. I managed to get her away and blocked off that pocket. We have also let them out to free range, and then they take breaks from each other. It took a couple of days, but now it is down to more normal, less aggressive pecking order moves. Wow, it was stressful. Just in time though, b/c the maran started laying right before I took the barriers down and has been giving me a little egg daily. Now she can access the nesting boxes. I have to say, despite the stress, they really are interesting and generally pretty sweet animals. So, Integration, Yay!

 

[TropicalBabies]

How long did this whole process take -as in how long were they exposed to each other barrier and no barrier- before successful integration? And how old were the newcomers when you started and age of your original flock?
I have 2- 3 WO's that I'd like to integrate into my small flock of 5- 5 MO's (1 a young and awkward roo). I ask for your wisdom because I would like to have as stress free of a transition as possible. I too am oddly attached to these crazy/fun creatures and get upset when the large ones are mean to the little ones. <3. Thank you

 

[Shorty22366]

I just integrated my 5 week olds to my 8 month old and my 5 month olds
I used the barrier for 4 weeks and then I took small ones out to run and set with them while the older ones checked them out. If the older ones got to aggressive I stepped in and ended it. It took two days for complete integration. Now my 2 Silkie roos protect babies from older ones
But I am blessed to have 2 sweet roosters. Good luck try showing your older one the littles are yours and you are going to protect them. But don't be too rough on them because they also need to know you will protect them too.
Some of my small ones are mean to the olders and I step in and make the small ones behave.
I know spoiled chickens. I do love all my babies.
I have a broody Silkie with 4 3 week old babies and I am going to let her integrate them but I will be there for backup..

 

[TropicalBabies]

I just integrated my 5 week olds to my 8 month old and my 5 month olds
I used the barrier for 4 weeks and then I took small ones out to run and set with them while the older ones check them out. If the holders got to aggressive I stepped end and ended it. It took two days for complete integration. Now my 2 Silkie roos protect babies from older ones
But I am blessed to have 2 sweet roosters. Good luck try showing your older one the littles are yours and you are going to protect them. But don't be too rough on them because they also need to know you will protect them too.
Some of my small ones are mean to the elders and I step in and make the small ones behave.
I know spoiled chickens. I do love all my babies.
I have a broody Silkie with 4 3 week old babies and I am going to let her integrate them but I will be there for backup..

Inspired! and I forgot to congratulate heronchick- Congratulations on your success! Ok. I have the babies out in the garden with the big kids with plenty places to hide. Big kids can guard against cat if he gets silly. All is well enough for me to do some chores. So far, very well. Thank you both!!!

 

[heronchick]

Thanks for the congrats! Love reading your posts! I have had the older hens for a year +. Raised from peeps. The new chicks are about 20-22 weeks old. I put chicken wire to split the coop in half and then chicken wire to split the run in half for about three weeks or so. Then like Shorty 22366, I would let them all out of the run, to tour the yard and we would patrol them. I also asserted that these were my babies/my chicks and they were not to attack them. We did this regularly since we have gotten them. However, the New Hampshire did not really care and did attack them violently every time I was not right there present. Like i said above, after the first day of crazy harsh attacks. there is now more detente and a more reasonable pecking order behavior is in play. It only took 2 days to get to that once they were finally integrated. And, like you, these are pampered. hand raised, over "treat"ed birds. Good luck in your process. Trust your gut as you weigh when it feels right to let them work it out amongst themselves.