Introducing a young flock to an older one. Need advice!

[Missmomo19]

I just moved in with family and I have a young flock ( 4 months old). Therr are 5 of them, and so far I can tell I have 2 roosters, one hen, and 2 unknown as of yet. They are all silkies. My moms flock is 5 hens of varying sizes and breeds, but they are all at least 2-3 years old.

I am wondering the best way to introduce them. We have a very large enclosure with a coop inside built for 12 full sized chickens. My concern is that my little ones will be pecked relentlessly. Also, I’m unsure how my little rooster will do with the older ladies.

 

[Henry&Friends]

The see but don’t touch method has worked for me, I fence off a part of the run and coop for the young ones, and let them live in their run for about two weeks before opening it up.

When I open it up, I put a gap or two that’s small enough for the young ones, but too small for the older ones. When they all seem to be getting along, I remove the inner fence and they all mingle and such.

At roost time, you’ll probably end up having to put your younger birds onto the roosts yourself— I portion off part of the coop so they can get the hang of roosting before the older hens bully them off the best perches.

I have had one hen who I didn’t integrate like this, because I rescued her and my mom wouldn’t let me set up an enclosure for her— every night she roosts on a tree branch beside the coop. Now I don’t have my weekday job, so I keep putting her in front of the coop whenever she flies up to the branch. And she is so persistent that I feel bad every time— but she’s gotta learn.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Arrange a look but don't touch set up for initial introductions... keep them in sight but separated for about a week. After that either make a door large enough for the young flock but too small for the old hens as an escape route that allows the little's to start mingling with the big's. Re-arrange object inside the big's area... to create a little disruption to their territorial-ness. I place new birds on roost after dark so they all wake up together. Making sure there are lots of visual barriers... like a bale of hay, lawn chair on its' side, or even just a hanging towel for false walls. Also add in extra feeding and watering stations at first. They can probably be removed once integration is complete.

I have used as few as 1 day or as much as a couple weeks of look but don't touch. This will vary depending on the individual birds and flock dynamics... so you must gauge YOUR groups.

Also for mixed ages... and broody birds like Silkies ( I bredf them for several years)... I far prefer Purina Flock Raiser (20% protein) with oyster shell on the side for active layers. This allows birds not in lay to sample but still mostly avoid the excess calcium which *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues including gout and even failure or sudden death... most often in birds who are genetically predisposed AND fed excess treats or improper diet.

I use droppings boards in my coop... it has a lower roost... where the little's usually start out and work their way up onto roost with the big's as their confidence increases.

With regards to the older hens and the young stags... They will likely try to mate them. My large fowl ladies (who weren't raised with them or are mature before them) point and laugh at bantam cocks and REFUSE to squat or submit to them. Sometimes... the hens will relentlessly go after the stags or the stag will relentlessly pick on the non submitting hens. Sometimes they simply avoid each other. So watch the antics and adjust as you situation calls for it.

I keep putting her in front of the coop whenever she flies up to the branch. And she is so persistent that I feel bad every time— but she’s gotta learn.

Remove your new hen after roost time and put her IN the coop and close the door... not in front of it... to get your point across!

 

[aart]

We have a very large enclosure with a coop inside built for 12 full sized chickens.

How big are these in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would be most helpful here.

Here's some tips about.....
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.