Introducing new chicks to the flock-not working.....?

[seminolewind]

Make alot of obstacles, and things to run behind.

 

[cmom]

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So true.

 

[cmom]

Have they been able to see each other? First I put them in adjacent runs for around for a month I put mine together when they are about the same size. They will still establish their pecking order. I first let mine range together when my pullets were 15 weeks old but watched them carefully. I had two of my older hens pounce on some of the younger ones and even pull some feathers out. I put the aggressive ones in a separate run for a week where they could see the others. When I let them back out with the flock one was still a bit aggressive. I happened to have a hose in my hand and when the older bird jumped on a younger one I gave her a shot of water from the hose and she got off and ran into the coop and didn't come out for awhile. The older birds still chase the younger ones but I haven't seen any real aggression lately. Some of my pullets have started laying. They are 20 weeks old now. Mine are a 1 ½ years apart in age. They now range together daily and even lay in each others coop nest boxes. There are pictures on my BYC. I don't have any pictures of the little girls nest boxes.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

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Isn't that a little high on the roo/hen ratio? Any time I have more than 1 roo per 12-15 hens, there's trouble. Even with only 2 roos with 30 hens, I have several hens getting bare-backed. They must be the sexiest hens in the flock.

That's an interesting idea, using toys and whatnot as distractions for the rest of the flock. Chickens are extremely curious about new things, so I can see how that worked! A stroke of genius, I may try that if I ever have a problem introducing new birds. So far, mine have always been easy, maybe because I free range, so they have lots of room to scatter.

Oh yes! I'm sorry for not explaining this further, the ratio is extremely poor. I'm ordering with MPC in a few days to get a few more pullets and even it out. Sadly, our coop just doesn't have enough room to house any more than 10 hens...and 8 is just pushing it.

Ah well, this is what happens when you refuse to get rid of your roos. Our flock, however, hasn't experienced much trouble. Maybe because our boys are all banties? The only trouble there is, is SOME fighting between the males, but it isn't pronounced enough to be an issue. Hah, Im being responsible. I have saddles for my girls, just in case, although I've yet to use them. Only one for my special girl who doesn't need it, but I'd like her back feathers to be protected for showing in June.

The toys idea works very well. The chooks even stayed inside most of the first day, while the more daring chicks played around. My flock is scared so easily, it's almost funny. How chicken they are! (Pun intended.) The problem with free-ranging is that I want my chicks and adults to get to know each other well, and if I let them scatter, they wouldn't tuely establish the order for a while. Also, tiny, tiny banty chicks get me nervous alone. So small, they can get anywhere!

 

[dancingbear]

PolishPrincess, I don't let baby chicks free range, unless they have a good mom to protect them, and then I keep watch at crucial times, like just before dark to make sure everybody gets back inside ok. Babies that have no mom, like the ones I incubated, get a fenced, covered, run with a little house in it for them, and a heat lamp as long as they need it. They don't get turned loose with the others until they're about pigeon size, and fully feathered. At that point, my cats don't bother them, and there's not much trouble from the adult birds either, as they've been seeing them through the wire that whole time. I start out letting the babies out late in the day, maybe an hour before they'd be settling in for the night. I increase it as they get better at figuring out where to go at night.

I try to give new moms a separate space for a few days, anyway, but sometimes I just have too many moms to manage it. They usually do ok.

I never noticed it taking too long for the flock to integrate when they free range. Even if it did take a little longer, so what? It's not like they have a deadline they have to meet or something. There's less stress, because they can avoid each other if they want.

What breeds do you have, that are so nervous? Most of mine are pretty laid back, only a few flighty ones. I weed those out, they're a PITA. Overly sensitive or nervous hens get sold. They're usually good layers, but I can't stand all the hysteria!

 

[ZooMummzy]

Introducing new pullets to my flock last summer was the most stressful thing I have had to deal with in a long time! I got two EE's late in the season so they were so much smaller than the rest of my flock I got in early spring. I built a little cage within my run right next to the coop. It was complete with a mini coop and roost pole, food, water etc. Everyone could see each other and talk but not get too close. Slowly I started leaving the cage door open during the day and letting the bigger pullets come in and look around. (I was nearby the whole time) After two weeks of this, I just left it open all the time and one day everyone was out and about in the run together. The usual pecking order stuff went on for some time, but now everyone gets along really well. Even though it went pretty smoothly, I still stress every time I think of doing this again next year when I get new chicks.

 

[dancingbear]

I have to applaud you guys for being so conscientious about the welfare of your chickens, but I have to tell you, I think you're making it harder than it needs to be. They really don't need to be micro-managed.

I wait till the new ones are about pigeon size, and can fly up on things, and turn them loose with the others. I watch for just a bit to make sure there's no overt murder attempts. There will be a little pecking and squawking. Then I go away and leave them alone. I come back just before it starts getting dark to make sure everybody gets in ok. They'll be fine, 99% of the time.

Keep in mind this is with letting them outside the run, to roam completely free. It may not work as well in a confinement system, unless there's a lot of room, and things to distract them.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

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When we do a hatch, it isn't up to me to keep them inside. My folks really don't like the chicks being in the house, so as soon as the feathers are in, they're out! I really have no choice in the end. There is a method to my madness, although it's a bit hidden. (To say the least!) We have no electricity in the coop or outside, period. This crate, home-made outdoor brooder, is the chicks' safety for a few weeks. I'm not always around and my hens and roos have a habbit of being a little...there's a word for it...barbaric, I guess.

My chicks were slow maturing. I've only integrated them together once, so this is all trial and error. The black chick in that picture on the first page is Polish Standard X d'Uccle banty. The blue is Polish Standard (same one) X Sultan banty. The babies were only about the size of a computer mouse when I put them outside. All feathered, even crest feathered, just small, so they had to go. My flock is a mix of 2 Silkies (one roo, one hen), 1 d'Uccle roo, 2 Leghorn mixed hens, 1 Australorp mixed hen, 1 Brahma banty hen, 1 Wyandotte hen, 1 Jap banty hen, 1 Polish hen, 1 Turken hen, and my two Polish mixes. None in particular are mean, but all have the potential to be. Our boys are henpecked, so the hens rule with an iron fist. THEY can be intimidating. Everyone here is strictly a pet. If their is a problem, I'll do my best to work it out but even my nervous hens have a place here.

The boys, however, are starting to over-stay their welcome. I just hate thinking of them becoming dinner. I can't bring myself to face that I have mean roos.

 

[dancingbear]

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I see, I didn't know your situation. Are you an adult, or nearly an adult? Sorry, I don't mean to pry, just some things I wouldn't say to a very young person, especially pertaining to what might be a pet!

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I haven't had all of those breeds, but I've had a few of them. I've never had any Sultans, Polish, Japanese, d'Uccle, or Turkens. I have some Brahmas, I've had Wyandottes, some Leghorn mixes, and Australorps. The Leghorns tend to be nervous and flighty, prone to hysterical fits at the slightest provocation. That can set off the rest, even if they are normally of a calmer nature. I think the screaming in alarm they do makes the others think there might be something after them. My 'lorps are nice, calm hens, I'm very fond of them, and Brahmas are laid back and placid. I have the standard size ones, rather than bantams, I had a bunch of mixed breed bantams a long time ago. They were great moms, and could definitely stand up for themselves.

You may not actually have mean roos, just too many roos. When you get too many of them, they fight, and they harass the hens. The hens get raggedy and nervous from being chased all the time. You might want to see about selling off a few. A lot of people sell them on craigslist. If they're mostly bantam or bantam mixes, that might make it easier to find folks who don't intend to eat them, since they wouldn't be very big.

 

[emvickrey]

My coop is 14' x 6' with a ladder that leads to the nesting shelf and 2 roosts. I have had 2 cages in the coop that contain a total of6 pullets that are now 2 and 3 months old. The 3 month olds have always been in sight of the a little older chickens and the 2 month olds where put in there just a little over a month ago. So everyboey has been living in the same quarters for a while now. I did have a larger flock and had to down size. I kept only 2 young hens and the 4 babies. One of the babies is as big as the older ones. I say older ones but they are 5 months old. I was able to let one of them out with hardly any problems because she takes up for herself but the others are bantam size and will never reach a size to match the others. There are now 1 young roo and 3 young hens that are loose. The rest are still in cages. One of the older ones has been harrassed by the others since they where all put in there and I have to accomodate her for her own source of water and food. They won't let her share theirs. Even the young one that is now with them does the same thing.

Anyway, I don't have a place right now to make a new coop for the young ones and I feel it is very unfait that they have to live in a cage. The only way I can let them out is if I transfer the oldest 2 into a cage. The EE roo and EE hen refuse to get along and she is laying eggs now.
Is it because of that or is she just being a B****.

I read some of this thread and I'm gonna try to give them places to hide that are small enough for them and too small for the bigger ones but that makes it hard for one of the bigger ones that is buddies with the babies. She will roll around and lay her head and neck over all of them as if protecting them but when Spike walks up they are on their own. She gets up and walks away. She will only fight for herself.

I want my chickens to live in harmony not fear. They would have a 20' x 14' run attached to their coop but we have a St. Bernard that is in the way. I have been trying to find a home for him for several months now. We could turn the coop and aaaadd the run. I think that would help a great deal. We could devide the coop and run if necessary but as it is they have to share.

Sorry this is so long. If anybody has any suggestions please let me know. I really want to get them out of the cage.