Introducing new chickens to an existing flock in an Eglu Cube!

[tmac]

Hello there!
We have two 2-year old hens who have been happily living in their Eglu cube since they were 11 weeks old. This spring we got 3 new chicks and they are about ready to join the big girls outside (they are 10 weeks old now). I was wondering if anyone has any experience with introducing new chickens to their existing flock? We've been letting them free range in the back yard all together and the little chickens keep to themselves, while the old hens complain vocally and one even pecks at the little ones. We've put them all in the Cube on two occasions and it is not exactly ideal for either party. Lots of pecking and vocal complaining. And this is just in the run area (yes we have extended the run)! As far as inside the coop, the hens refuse to go inside if the little chickens are in there, and vice versa. There is not a lot of space inside the coop, and creating a segregated area for the little ones is pretty much impossible in there. I am beginning to wonder if we need to get a separate coop for the little chickens. If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[Chickadeeee]

I read somewhere that if you sneak one new chicken into the coop at night, the old hens will assume that if they woke up with this chicken there, then it obviously must have been their when they went to bed...and hopefully they'll just accept the new hen. I've personally never tried this technique, but I'd assume it would work better if you stuck one new chicken in per night, so as not to completely boggle the old hens. Below are some links I thought might contain helpful hints for incorporating your new birds into your existing flock. Hope this helps! ;}

http://www.citygirlfarming.com/Chickens/NewChickensToFlock.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[tmac]

Thanks for your suggestions! I think it may be too late to try to sneak them in at night. The old ones already know they're around (they've been free-ranging in the yard together in the daytime for a few days now). And last night the little ones slept in the run, on the ground (poor things) and when the old ones woke up and came out, they were not too pleased to see them there! I posted this in the Omlet forum, and someone said they are still too young to be integrated. They should be at the point of laying before introducing them. That way they'd all be around the same size and less bullying would occur? Has anyone successfully integrated new chickens to the flock at ~10 weeks old?