Introducing new chickens

[rosemarythyme]

Ok sorry for taking so long to respond...work life lol. So my run is 7x3 with the coop above it. I can’t remember the specifics for the coop. I can move some stuff around to create a couple obstacles after checking it out this morning. HOWEVER 2 of the 3 older chickens are bantams who are actually a little smaller than the newbies so I’m not sure how much protection obstacles will offer since those two can chase them anywhere. I don’t have a huge run because I put them into my enclosed garden almost daily. They get along pretty well in the garden it’s only in the run/coop we have an issue. And I don’t have any males, not allowed to where I live

7x3 is very tiny, especially for the number of birds you have, even if a couple are bantams. Around 50 sq ft would be the minimum to aim for, optimally more, as integration takes more space as you've seen. Part of the problem isn't just the overall sq footage, it's also the fact that it's narrow which makes it even more impossible for birds to put space between each other and I can see why you'd have problems adding obstacles. It makes sense they'd get along in the garden where there'd be more room and probably some obstacles too to keep the peace.

Is there any way of expanding the run area that they can use during the day? Possibly the coop too, though that might be harder depending on how it's built. Photos might help if you're not sure how you can expand. While it's nice that they can have some time outside of that, if it's not accessible most/all the time, it's not enough, especially when you're already having tension issues.

 

[cindagram]

Thank you for your advice. I don’t have any males as I am only having them as layers.
They are almost the same size as my smallest adults so I don’t know that a separate hiding place will work but I will take your advice and try to put in a few more obstacles to help out. Thank you so very much for your response!

 

[Frizzlychick]

Ok I took all of the advice given into great consideration and came up with the following...I created two obstacles within the run, a horizontal wall that partially blocks where their food and water is, and a vertical wall they can jump on top of and hide behind. Unfortunately the older bantams can still get to them because they are a little smaller than the young ones but it’s still a break. I put the older ones into the garden and gave the youngsters alone time in the run and coop to figure it all out, then I slowly brought the older ones into the run one at a time allowing time to pass before bringing the next. I started with the one who care the least about the newbies and worked my way up to the most aggressive. This seemed to work really well. While the youngsters were a little stressed they weren’t being overly picked on. I only had to interfere twice when one was literally stuck in a corner being pecked. Then after dark I went out and put the youngsters into the coop with the sleeping oldies. One of the bantams is being obnoxious and squawking but they don’t seem to mind them being in there now that loud mouth woke them up. I left the coop door into the run open slightly just in case they need an escape. Fingers crossed

 

[cindagram]

Ok I took all of the advice given into great consideration and came up with the following...I created two obstacles within the run, a horizontal wall that partially blocks where their food and water is, and a vertical wall they can jump on top of and hide behind. Unfortunately the older bantams can still get to them because they are a little smaller than the young ones but it’s still a break. I put the older ones into the garden and gave the youngsters alone time in the run and coop to figure it all out, then I slowly brought the older ones into the run one at a time allowing time to pass before bringing the next. I started with the one who care the least about the newbies and worked my way up to the most aggressive. This seemed to work really well. While the youngsters were a little stressed they weren’t being overly picked on. I only had to interfere twice when one was literally stuck in a corner being pecked. Then after dark I went out and put the youngsters into the coop with the sleeping oldies. One of the bantams is being obnoxious and squawking but they don’t seem to mind them being in there now that loud mouth woke them up. I left the coop door into the run open slightly just in case they need an escape. Fingers crossed

 

[cindagram]

Good work! I took the advice from others as well and build some more obstacles. I went ahead and opened the door that the three teenagers are in and said whatever will be, will be! I had to get thick skin and just let them figure it out. This may sound harsh but I’m just to the point where i’m tired of the tiptoeing and productiveness of them and figured it’s just gonna be what it is - live or die.
Now, with that said, I spent a lot of time monitoring and protecting still but had to walk away a few times because I wanted to cry. In the end, they are still alive and no blood. Just a lot of running away and trying to hide and sneak food and water when the other hens are resting.
It kind of feels like a miracle right now because it is working! Every day is getting better.
My only issue now is getting them to walk up the ramp in to the coop at night. I’ve had to take them out of their cage that still has the open door where they are roosting and put them in the coop.
Tonight will make night four of doing that so I am wondering if maybe I should do something different Like put the cage inside the coop with the door open? But I just wish they would get in there with everyone else and roost.

 

[Frizzlychick]

Good work! I took the advice from others as well and build some more obstacles. I went ahead and opened the door that the three teenagers are in and said whatever will be, will be! I had to get thick skin and just let them figure it out. This may sound harsh but I’m just to the point where i’m tired of the tiptoeing and productiveness of them and figured it’s just gonna be what it is - live or die.
Now, with that said, I spent a lot of time monitoring and protecting still but had to walk away a few times because I wanted to cry. In the end, they are still alive and no blood. Just a lot of running away and trying to hide and sneak food and water when the other hens are resting.
It kind of feels like a miracle right now because it is working! Every day is getting better.
My only issue now is getting them to walk up the ramp in to the coop at night. I’ve had to take them out of their cage that still has the open door where they are roosting and put them in the coop.
Tonight will make night four of doing that so I am wondering if maybe I should do something different Like put the cage inside the coop with the door open? But I just wish they would get in there with everyone else and roost.

I’m so glad it’s starting to work for you! Two days of it and things are getting better each day. I only had 1 incident I needed to break up yesterday because the youngster was actually stuck. The first night I had to place them In the coop but last night the youngsters went in there just fine on their own after the teens had gone in. The only issue I’m having with the coop is in the morning the youngsters are afraid to come out lol. So I’ve had to take them out, the first morning as I put them in the run the teens pecked at them but this morning they just looked at them and even let them eat from their food without chasing them away! It was very exciting lol

 

[cindagram]

I am so glad to hear this! Yay!!!!
Looks like the help from all our friends on here paid off! I’m very grateful.
My only issue left is I still can’t get my teenagers to go in at night. I removed the dog crate they were in Inside the run which had their roost in it. I made a new roost for them in the opposite corner away from the big girls inside the coop.
We are leaving for a few days on vacation Friday so I’m a little nervous about them if they don’t start going in tonight. It’s starting to get very cold at night time in Oregon.

 

[Molliep2]

I put the new hen in a cage with her own food, water, etc. next to the coop with my other hens so that they could smell and see each and get acquainted while being separated. After a week or so when I thought they were ready, I put my new hen in the coop and they seemed to work well with the other hens.

 

[Molliep2]

I am so glad to hear this! Yay!!!!
Looks like the help from all our friends on here paid off! I’m very grateful.
My only issue left is I still can’t get my teenagers to go in at night. I removed the dog crate they were in Inside the run which had their roost in it. I made a new roost for them in the opposite corner away from the big girls inside the coop.
We are leaving for a few days on vacation Friday so I’m a little nervous about them if they don’t start going in tonight. It’s starting to get very cold at night time in Oregon.

You could try putting a light in their coop and turning it on at dusk, when it's almost going to be dark and seeing if they will go in. They are attracted to light at dark.

 

[donnavee]

Any way you can section off an area with an opening too small for the big ones to get through? That would allow the youngsters to venture out and retreat when necessary without the big ones following. I'm going through an integration right now - 12 wk olds to my mature flock. Daytime is no problem since I free range, so lots of room. Bedtime is still a little awkward but I placed several sawhorses in the safe run and notice the young ones fly up there for safety. Most of the older girls are too heavy or lazy to follow. However, the young ones still aren't brave enough to roost with the big ones so I'm letting them sleep wherever in the coop. Extra cleanup for me.

Good luck, I know it's nerve wracking to see them being bullied but they should eventually work it out.