Introducing 2 free range chickens to 3 coop chickens

[Susanpi]

I had to give away our 2 roo, leaving me with 3-month-old pullets, 1 Lavender Orpington, 1 Barred Rock and 1 Rhode Island Red. We have an 8x5 coop/run and let them out in the yard for an hour a day. A friend has 80 hens that are just a little bit older and some have started laying small eggs. My pullets are pretty easy going. My concern is that hers are used to free ranging. Wondering how they will respond to coop life.
Also, I don’t have a separate coop to start them off in. I could put the new ones in a large dog crate inside the run but I can’t imagine free range hens being happy in a crate. I picture my pullets hopping on top of the dog crate pooping all over them. Since they are pretty close in age, would It be ok just to put them straight in the coop/run?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I had to give away our 2 roo, leaving me with 3-month-old pullets, 1 Lavender Orpington, 1 Barred Rock and 1 Rhode Island Red. We have an 8x5 coop/run and let them out in the yard for an hour a day. A friend has 80 hens that are just a little bit older and some have started laying small eggs. My pullets are pretty easy going. My concern is that hers are used to free ranging. Wondering how they will respond to coop life.
Also, I don’t have a separate coop to start them off in. I could put the new ones in a large dog crate inside the run but I can’t imagine free range hens being happy in a crate. I picture my pullets hopping on top of the dog crate pooping all over them. Since they are pretty close in age, would It be ok just to put them straight in the coop/run?

First of all, how many of them are you getting? How big is your yard/ outdoor area and would it be possible to set up a little free ranging area for them? I would put a divider or something in between them, one that they can see through but not be able to attack each other through.

 

[Susanpi]

First of all, how many of them are you getting? How big is your yard/ outdoor area and would it be possible to set up a little free ranging area for them? I would put a divider or something in between them, one that they can see through but not be able to attack each other through.

I’m getting 2, either barred rock or buff Orpington. I could put a large dog crate outside the coop/run. I cannot let them free range here Without supervision.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I’m getting 2, either barred rock or buff Orpington. I could put a large dog crate outside the coop/run. I cannot let them free range here Without supervision.

How big is the dog crate?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not worry about confining young free range birds, they get over it.

But what I would suggest is flipping it, I would put your current birds in the crate, put the new birds in the coop/run. Leave them for two days, push the crate right up next to the fence and feed both sets along the fence. Then let both out in the late afternoon, and encourage all to go to the coop. Do get out early the next morning to make sure all is well.

When you say, coop/run is 5 x 8, is that all the area all together? Because an hour of free ranging so to speak, will not compensate for too small of space. If you are thinking, 'well my 5 birds got along just fine in there,' the problem is your birds are not full grown.

What often happens is what is more than enough space, when chicks are little, rapidly becomes NOT enough space as birds reach full size. The theory that if they are raised together, they will learn to get along does not apply to chickens. Chickens need space. Very ugly behaviors can develop when chickens are over crowded.

Introducing new birds takes even more space. Measure the coop alone or post a picture, measure the run. For five birds, you really need a coop bigger than 4 x 5 feet, for the run it should be at least 10 x 5 feet. A little free ranging will not help. Chickens are not like puppies, where a little exercise, they are content to come back to the house. Chickens need space to make their society work.

As winter comes on, they will be roosted up for about 14 hours a day in South Dakota, too long in too small of place.

It might be best, if your set up is smaller than this, not to add any birds. As they continue to grow, the coop will be smaller and smaller.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Since they are pretty close in age, would It be ok just to put them straight in the coop/run?

Not a good idea, IMO.
Age has nothing to little to do with it.
You can try but have a Plan B ready to go.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Susanpi]

I would not worry about confining young free range birds, they get over it.

But what I would suggest is flipping it, I would put your current birds in the crate, put the new birds in the coop/run. Leave them for two days, push the crate right up next to the fence and feed both sets along the fence. Then let both out in the late afternoon, and encourage all to go to the coop. Do get out early the next morning to make sure all is well.

When you say, coop/run is 5 x 8, is that all the area all together? Because an hour of free ranging so to speak, will not compensate for too small of space. If you are thinking, 'well my 5 birds got along just fine in there,' the problem is your birds are not full grown.

What often happens is what is more than enough space, when chicks are little, rapidly becomes NOT enough space as birds reach full size. The theory that if they are raised together, they will learn to get along does not apply to chickens. Chickens need space. Very ugly behaviors can develop when chickens are over crowded.

Introducing new birds takes even more space. Measure the coop alone or post a picture, measure the run. For five birds, you really need a coop bigger than 4 x 5 feet, for the run it should be at least 10 x 5 feet. A little free ranging will not help. Chickens are not like puppies, where a little exercise, they are content to come back to the house. Chickens need space to make their society work.

As winter comes on, they will be roosted up for about 14 hours a day in South Dakota, too long in too small of place.

It might be best, if your set up is smaller than this, not to add any birds. As they continue to grow, the coop will be smaller and smaller.

Mrs K

t

How big is the dog crate?

3x4

 

[Susanpi]

I would not worry about confining young free range birds, they get over it.

But what I would suggest is flipping it, I would put your current birds in the crate, put the new birds in the coop/run. Leave them for two days, push the crate right up next to the fence and feed both sets along the fence. Then let both out in the late afternoon, and encourage all to go to the coop. Do get out early the next morning to make sure all is well.

When you say, coop/run is 5 x 8, is that all the area all together? Because an hour of free ranging so to speak, will not compensate for too small of space. If you are thinking, 'well my 5 birds got along just fine in there,' the problem is your birds are not full grown.

What often happens is what is more than enough space, when chicks are little, rapidly becomes NOT enough space as birds reach full size. The theory that if they are raised together, they will learn to get along does not apply to chickens. Chickens need space. Very ugly behaviors can develop when chickens are over crowded.

Introducing new birds takes even more space. Measure the coop alone or post a picture, measure the run. For five birds, you really need a coop bigger than 4 x 5 feet, for the run it should be at least 10 x 5 feet. A little free ranging will not help. Chickens are not like puppies, where a little exercise, they are content to come back to the house. Chickens need space to make their society work.

As winter comes on, they will be roosted up for about 14 hours a day in South Dakota, too long in too small of place.

It might be best, if your set up is smaller than this, not to add any birds. As they continue to grow, the coop will be smaller and smaller.

Mrs K

You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you.