Introducing New Chicks to our Flock. Need Help!!

[BrianR32GTR]

Hey there. I know there are a few threads already related to introducing chicks to an already established flock however just looking to get some insight and opinions specific to our flock.

We have 5 , 1 year old ISA Browns that are already established in our coop and are really happy and friendly with each other. When they were growing up together there was one that got picked on a lot and she kept flying up to one of our roosts and was hiding and avoiding getting pecked. The problem went on for a long time until I moved the roost. After a week of being bullied (and monitored to make sure it wasnt too severe) the bullying stopped and ever since they have all got along fine..

Now we have 6 more chicks 3 barred rocks and 3 Black sex link who all get along with each other. Now that they are 10 weeks old we have begun introducing them in a seperate small coop that has a run and we had placed it beside our large coops run to let them meet and kind of yell at each other . After a few days of them getting to know each other we moved the younger chicks into the coop and run. 2 of our year old hens have been really picking on our newbies anytime they come close to them scaring the hell out of them. As long as they distance themselves there isnt a problem its only when they get too close. With that being said Im wondering if its going to play out the same way as our original flock where I have to eliminate roosts etc to make them confront each other and work out their differences.

At night they have no problems. They roost together; little bit of noise at first but it settles down and they sleep together all night. In the morning when the door opens to the run the chicks tend to go out first and get a head start on scratching and foraging while my older hens eat and drink inside the coop and line up for laying eggs.

Just wondering if their are any basic strategies I should try to help them deal with the new members or is it just a time based thing? Its only been 3 days since they have had actual physical contact. 3 of the 5 hens don't mind them and will even help clean food from their mouths etc. Its just the 2 hens that are having trouble accepting them.

Anyways, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance folks,
Brian

 

[animalwild]

Did you introduce all the chicks at once or a few of them. When I first introduced mine they kind of got picked on by the bigger ones when they got to close but I had eight together they grew up so they would gang up I think once they get bigger it shouldn't be to much of a problem maybe you could allow like an hour for them to be together at a time and slowly introduce them

 

[bobbi-j]

Give it time. That's how they establish the pecking order. As long as there is no blood being drawn, I wouldn't worry about it. I also wouldn't "force them to confront each other". I'd just let them work it out.

 

[BrianR32GTR]

Give it time. That's how they establish the pecking order. As long as there is no blood being drawn, I wouldn't worry about it. I also wouldn't "force them to confront each other". I'd just let them work it out.

Yeah there isn't any blood being drawn. It looks like their is progress being made too. On the first night the older hens didnt let them roost with them, and now slowly but surely they are getting closer to each other on the roost for warmth etc.

So I feel like their is some progress just hoping it doesn't take too long. Just want them all to get along haha.