Introducing new birds

[Unicornlife3316]

Hey y’all —
I have 4 nine week old FBCM’s — 2 roosters and 2 hens. They’re getting be enough to be allowed to free range now and I’d like them to start running with my 9 older girls.

My hens free range from about 8:30 AM to dusk and go in to their main coop to sleep. The 4 new ones are in a pen in the goat barn, they’ve been there for about a month, where the big girls can see and hear them but not touch.

I have never introduced new birds to these girls, what’s the best way to do this? Let the little ones out while I can supervise everyone? Put them in after the big girls have gone to sleep and hope for the best? I’ve been reading but just want opinions!
Thanks in advance!

 

[courtsmarans]

i usually put them in a cage just like you have and then put them into the coop while everyone is roosting. establishing a pecking order is inevitable and some little fights are to be expected

 

[aart]

The 4 new ones are in a pen in the goat barn, they’ve been there for about a month, where the big girls can see and hear them but not touch.

Is the goat barn close to the coop?
How big is your coop, can you split off part of it so they can live together 24/7?

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.
Good tips on 'cluttering':
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Is the goat barn close to the coop?
How big is your coop, can you split off part of it so they can live together 24/7?

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.
Good tips on 'cluttering':
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

While the goat barn and coop are not close, the hens free range around the goat barn all day. So they have seen them daily for 4+ weeks. I don’t have a standard “coop” I have a 12x12 dog pen thats in a loafing shed (completely predator proof) where they sleep (same set up for 9 guineas) — also that’s what the babies are in now.

I’ve brought several of the older girls in to their coop for introduction, aside from a peck here and there, they don’t pay them much attention.

With the birds free ranging, I don’t worry much about places to hide as the barn has multiple places for hiding. And there’s 2 feed pans and three large troughs for water.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I should clarify — I have three separate 12x12 pens. One for guineas, one for hens and one for the babies.

Not just one for them all to sleep in.

 

[aart]

While the goat barn and coop are not close, the hens free range around the goat barn all day. So they have seen them daily for 4+ weeks. I don’t have a standard “coop” I have a 12x12 dog pen thats in a loafing shed (completely predator proof) where they sleep (same set up for 9 guineas) — also that’s what the babies are in now.

I’ve brought several of the older girls in to their coop for introduction, aside from a peck here and there, they don’t pay them much attention.

With the birds free ranging, I don’t worry much about places to hide as the barn has multiple places for hiding. And there’s 2 feed pans and three large troughs for water.

Just let em out then...and hope for the best?
Hopefully the youngers will go back into their barn at might and eventually follow the olders in tot he coop?
Let us know how it works out.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

That’s kind of what I’m thinking. The roosters have been a little aggressive towards the hens... but then hens are bigger so they may bite off more than they can chew

I’m more worried about the guineas vs the roosters...

 

[aart]

The roosters have been a little aggressive towards the hens... but then hens are bigger so they may bite off more than they can chew

At 9 weeks they are pullets and cockerels.
No doubt your older hens will put the cockerels in their place,
Hopefully the cockerels get the message.


PSA FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

At 9 weeks they are pullets and cockerels.
No doubt your older hens will put the cockerels in their place,
Hopefully the cockerels get the message.


PSA FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Well then by those means — I have all pullets as even my older girls won’t be one until March. I just refer to them as the hens, vs the guinea hens and the roosters vs the guinea cocks ... there’s a lot going on over here LOL

 

[Unicornlife3316]

And the babies - just to differentiate the groups. Sorry for wrong vocabulary.