Introducing Birds in Large Coop

[kitten32669]

Hello! I have two Rhode Island Red hens that are about two years old, and four ameraucana pullets that are 10-12 weeks old. I've had the babies in a separate pen in the coop, so everyone can see each other but not touch. I'm planning on introducing my babies into the larger coop this week and am curious what to expect? Do these types of chickens have compatible personalities? I should also mention that I have two 5 month old Rouen drakes in the coop as well, will everyone get along ok??

 

[Dustieburk]

When I let my new chicks out i first put them in another pen so they can see and meet each other like you. When I let them out they did get picked on a little bit but most of all they stayed away from the other chickens. I have all different age groups and the ones that are closest in age stay in their own little groups and do their own thing. They will have to find out who is the boss and who isn't there is always a pecking order not with just chickens but every animal. Hope this help and have fun.

 

[aart]

Are the drakes in with the youngsters or the older hens?
Will the drakes be moved to another pen with duck hens for them?
(did you know that a male duck can physically injure a female chicken internally if he mates her?)

How large is your 'large coop'(feet by feet)?
Can you merely open a door between the 2 coop sections?
That might be the best bet, the younger will continue to use their side of the coop as a refuge.


Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

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. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


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 blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, 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 and/or up and away from any bully birds.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[kitten32669]

The drakes are currently with the RIRs, my older girls in a converted calf shed that is roughly 10x12 feet and 7 feet tall. In the coop we built our chick pen that is about 3x6 feet and three feet tall where my babies are. The plan is to keep all my birds together, drakes included. The Reds chase the drakes when they come too close so I'm not really concerned about them trying to mate, but interesting to know! I'm picking up Two female rouen chicks today so eventually they'll have their own love interests, lol.