Introducing 3 month old chicks to existing flock of grown adults ~3 years old

[Chickentender5]

Hello everyone,

I have 14 3-month-old chicks (1 rooster) that I am trying to introduce to my existing flock of 10 chickens around 3 years old. The older hens are a bit mean and pick on each other. 1 of them is so pecked over by the others she has multiple bald spots and her feathers look bad and broken. Trying to use a no pick’n spray on her. Each flock is in 2 separate coops. The youngers have a small enclosed area but it’s getting a little cramped at this point. The older are free range in a huge section of the backyard. Lots of trees and open space. I opened the coop up for the youngers to come out and be with the older hens. 2 were brave enough to come out and explore the outside area. I stood out there watching for at least 20 minutes. Had some of the older hens walk up and check them out. They scared them a little, but nothing too aggressive or harmful. I made the mistake of going in for dinner (about 15 minutes). When I went back out to check on them, one of the youngers was all caught up in a small roll of fencing. Her ear was busted open and she has a huge gaping hole in her head. Still alive and now in a crate in the coop. Hopefully she pulls through. Any advice on how I can best deal with this aggression? I’d really hate to have to give anyone up or worse but not sure how to make sure they are all safe and healthy. Thank you for your time. I realize there are probably quite a few posts on this and will be reading more, but just wanted to explain my predicament.

Also wanted to add the enclosure the younger ones are in is adjacent to where the older ones are free range so they’ve had visual contact for the last month or so

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello everyone,

I have 14 3-month-old chicks (1 rooster) that I am trying to introduce to my existing flock of 10 chickens around 3 years old. The older hens are a bit mean and pick on each other. 1 of them is so pecked over by the others she has multiple bald spots and her feathers look bad and broken. Trying to use a no pick’n spray on her. Each flock is in 2 separate coops. The youngers have a small enclosed area but it’s getting a little cramped at this point. The older are free range in a huge section of the backyard. Lots of trees and open space. I opened the coop up for the youngers to come out and be with the older hens. 2 were brave enough to come out and explore the outside area. I stood out there watching for at least 20 minutes. Had some of the older hens walk up and check them out. They scared them a little, but nothing too aggressive or harmful. I made the mistake of going in for dinner (about 15 minutes). When I went back out to check on them, one of the youngers was all caught up in a small roll of fencing. Her ear was busted open and she has a huge gaping hole in her head. Still alive and now in a crate in the coop. Hopefully she pulls through. Any advice on how I can best deal with this aggression? I’d really hate to have to give anyone up or worse but not sure how to make sure they are all safe and healthy. Thank you for your time. I realize there are probably quite a few posts on this and will be reading more, but just wanted to explain my predicament.

Also wanted to add the enclosure the younger ones are in is adjacent to where the older ones are free range so they’ve had visual contact for the last month or so

You write that the 10 older hens already pick on each other. What are the sizes (floor space) of your two coops? (Don’t count any nest box space.) And the “small enclosed space” - do you mean a run?