Introducing 8 week old pullet to 14 week old pullets and hen

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Alydup

Alydup

Songster
6 Years
Aug 20, 2018
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Hi all,
I have 3 14 week old chickens I raised from chicks who are extremely tight knit, 1 turned out to be a rooster and a friend offered to trade me an 8 week old pullet for my rooster. I also recently took in a small grown hen who was bullied by her flock. She is now in with my flock after a separation period and they get along well enough but she is still not completely accepted and keeps to herself mostly. I am wondering how difficult it would be to introduce a young pullet into the group at this point? Would it be too much change? I am nervous about the size difference because the hen I took in was about the same size as mine. I don’t want to stress them out too much or have too much bullying. I am new to keeping chickens so any advice is much appreciated
 
Adding a single bird is tricky, but sounds like you've succeeded there.
Adding an immature(8wo) single bird could be even trickier.
Might try to bond the new hen with this new chick then add them both.
Not really sure, only ever add chicks I hatch due to bio-security concerns.

Lucky you to have someone want to give you a female for a male...
....maybe buy a second pullet, could make integrating much easier for the little ones.


This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


And here are my notes on.....
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.
 
aart said:
Adding a single bird is tricky, but sounds like you've succeeded there.
Adding an immature(8wo) single bird could be even trickier.
Might try to bond the new hen with this new chick then add them both.
Not really sure, only ever add chicks I hatch due to bio-security concerns.

Lucky you to have someone want to give you a female for a male...
....maybe buy a second pullet, could make integrating much easier for the little ones.


This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


And here are my notes on.....
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
Click to expand...
aart said:
Adding a single bird is tricky, but sounds like you've succeeded there.
Adding an immature(8wo) single bird could be even trickier.
Might try to bond the new hen with this new chick then add them both.
Not really sure, only ever add chicks I hatch due to bio-security concerns.

Lucky you to have someone want to give you a female for a male...
....maybe buy a second pullet, could make integrating much easier for the little ones.


This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


And here are my notes on.....
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! She said I could have 2 but I don’t want to get into overcrowding. Maybe it’s best for me to stick with 3 for now. Especially since I just finished adding a new bird. I think she will be willing to take my male regardless.
 
Alydup said:
Thanks for the advice! She said I could have 2 but I don’t want to get into overcrowding. Maybe it’s best for me to stick with 3 for now. Especially since I just finished adding a new bird. I think she will be willing to take my male regardless.
Click to expand...
That indeed might be best.
It's good to know your space limitations and keep them from allowing chicken math to cause problems.
 

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