Introducing 18 week old pullets

[Jennibees]

Hello all! I have 4 new 18 wk pullets that I’ve introduced to my 2 existing 2 year olds. They’ve been side by side in a temp coop and dog crate for 2 weeks. They’re around 20 weeks now. My girls don’t like them and we’ve mingled a bit, supervised free range, and in coop. They still don’t like them. But I need to get them in the main coop and pen bc they’ll be getting ready to lay soon. The temp dog crate is really not the best.
Can I just put them all together now and let them work it out? They’re all the same breed. A mix of RIR and white rock. Great birds. I have extra food and water feeders for them too. Will they work it out??

 

[charlie1051]

HI Jennibees, I would put them together, you've done everything right, so now it's up to them to work it out. Hey we know there's gonna be some "ruffled feathers " but it's time.

The only thing I watch out for is if one of the girls gets pecked too much and starts bleeding. But I bet that does not happen as you did your prep work.

It's time for everyone to hang out !

 

[Jennibees]

HI Jennibees, I would put them together, you've done everything right, so now it's up to them to work it out. Hey we know there's gonna be some "ruffled feathers " but it's time.

The only thing I watch out for is if one of the girls gets pecked too much and starts bleeding. But I bet that does not happen as you did your prep work.

It's time for everyone to hang out !

Thank you. I can’t see doing anything more and I know they’re getting ready to lay so I want them to be together and figure it out. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Jennibees]

HI Jennibees, I would put them together, you've done everything right, so now it's up to them to work it out. Hey we know there's gonna be some "ruffled feathers " but it's time.

The only thing I watch out for is if one of the girls gets pecked too much and starts bleeding. But I bet that does not happen as you did your prep work.

It's time for everyone to hang out !

Actually, would you get rid of the temporary crate right away also? They seem to run to it and then don’t want to leave. I think it’s a deterrent from getting into the main coop, yes?

 

[townchicks]

You might start with putting them in the coop after dark, for a couple of nights at least, and then remove the dog crate and see what they do. They won't automatically see the coop as the place to go, especially if the big girls get possessive about it.

 

[charlie1051]

With all due respect to anyone else's thoughts- I would put them in permanently and take away the temporary crate.