Introducing a singleton? Or not?

[TinyLittleFarm]

I have a pair that need to be integrated into the flock. One is a pullet and one is a roo. There were originally four of them. Three were roos, and two of the other roos have already moved on to my friend's freezer. So I have the two of them left.

They are 5 1/2 months old. They are living in the brooder in my garage (don't worry it's plenty big for them.) Two months ago we tried to introduce them to the flock and they were both absolutely attacked. We did slow and supervised introductions but it just didn't go well. So we put them back in the garage thinking we'd just keep them there til spring when everyone is free ranging and maybe in a little better mood.

The problem is I have a broody about to hatch her eggs and a few more in the incubator and I need my brooder. I need these guys out of my garage!

I will not be keeping the roo. He will be rehomed.

So I don't know if I should just integrate the pullet or if I should keep them together for the time being. I feel just terrible taking Ginger (the pullet) away from her roo and putting her through the process of joining the flock all by herself. I'm worried that if she goes in alone she will be more vulnerable. I'm also worried that if I put both of them in there the addition of another roo might stir things up even more. I need a chicken psychologist!

 

[sheaviance1]

I had a very successful integration when mine were very young. When I tried it again with older chickens, it didn't go too good, and I had them where they could see each other for a couple of months but seperated by chicken wire. They have finally sorted it out, but I had to resort to a waterhose on the one who was doing the most picking in order to put a stop to it. Good luck to you, hope it goes better for you this time.

 

[elmo]

Adding a single chicken to a flock is really hard on the new chicken. Avoid it if at all possible. If anything, I'd integrate the two of them together, and then rehome the roo later.

Is there any way you can split up your existing run temporarily, perhaps with a makeshift fence, so the existing flock can see the new chickens but not get to them? After a week or two of letting them see each other, then you could try integrating again. And when you do integrate, it also helps to have enough space in the run as well as hiding places for the birds being bullied. Anything vertical will do, even a couple of old boxes.

I had a batch of spring chicks last year that I integrated into my older flock this way. After the chicks were close to full grown, I let them roost with the big girls at night but separated them into different pens during the daytime because that was when the real bullying went on.

 

[Highlander]

I tried to integrate a single chicken into my flock once when a dog attack left my neighbour with only one. She gave her to me so she would have company but it never worked. After 3 weeks she was still being picked on and chased away from the food etc. I had to make other plans for her.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

The only thing about separating her in the run is that it is still really cold here (Wisconsin). She would need to be in the coop and it would be hard to separate her in there. I do have a dog crate I could put her in inside the coop with her own food and water, but that seems like it wouldn't be very pleasant for her. Might be my best option, though. Poor little thing.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Night time is not going to be the worst problem (unless there's just not enough roost space). Daytime is the real problem.

You could try what I did: separate pens in the day, roosting together at night. But a single chicken in a pen by herself is a very stressed chicken. I would try to keep the roo until both the hen and the roo are integrated into the flock. That way, the flock will divide its attention between the two newcomers, giving each a bit of a break.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Quote:
Night time is not going to be the worst problem (unless there's just not enough roost space). Daytime is the real problem.

You could try what I did: separate pens in the day, roosting together at night. But a single chicken in a pen by herself is a very stressed chicken. I would try to keep the roo until both the hen and the roo are integrated into the flock. That way, the flock will divide its attention between the two newcomers, giving each a bit of a break.

I'll try that, Elmo. Good advice.