Introducing new hens

[smallfarmlife]

Hello,
So I have a chicken run that is a 8x20. I have four older hens. I also have six younger hens that are almost 10 weeks old. We moved them outside yesterday but built them a coop to where the older girls can see them and be close to them but not physically touch them. I did a few meetings with all ten of them in the backyard a few times so it was neutral territory, but the older girls wouldn't go near the babies and the babies stayed away from them too. LOL. Anyways, I plan on rearranging the coop and adding a few more things to it for them to play and stay busy. I figure my run gives 16 sq feet per hen. My question is, is there anything else I can do to make this transition go well? I am terrified that my older girls will get hurt my younger girls ( I've heard horror stories ) Also how long should I keep them separate in the run? I was thinking a week or so. And will it hurt my younger girls if they get some of the older girls feed? I read so many different things about that online. The bag says to keep them on the starter/grower until 16 weeks :/

Thanks so much in advance for all your help

 

[TheTwoRoos]

What type of feed is it?

Your young girls are way more likely to get bullied by the older girls.I would leave the chicks in a seperate cage for another week or 2,then try putting them together.

 

[smallfarmlife]

LOL, Sorry, I meant to type it that way. Meaning that the younger girls would get hurt by the older girls. ( i think I need more coffee, lol ) I edited and fixed it though.

I feed them a combination of Nutrena organic layer feed and nutrena hearty hen and then I will sprinkle scratch and meal worms through out the run.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

ah,they shouldnt have layer feed till actually laying,only laying hens should have laying feed.I feed my chickens all flock becuase i have ducks,geese,and roosters.I take my chicks off chick feed after 3 months,some maybe have transferrd earlier.

Mine free range,so they get everything thay their feed provides.

 

[aart]

Hello,
So I have a chicken run that is a 8x20. I have four older hens. I also have six younger hens that are almost 10 weeks old. We moved them outside yesterday but built them a coop to where the older girls can see them and be close to them but not physically touch them. I did a few meetings with all ten of them in the backyard a few times so it was neutral territory, but the older girls wouldn't go near the babies and the babies stayed away from them too. LOL. Anyways, I plan on rearranging the coop and adding a few more things to it for them to play and stay busy. I figure my run gives 16 sq feet per hen. My question is, is there anything else I can do to make this transition go well? I am terrified that my older girls will get hurt my younger girls ( I've heard horror stories ) Also how long should I keep them separate in the run? I was thinking a week or so. And will it hurt my younger girls if they get some of the older girls feed? I read so many different things about that online. The bag says to keep them on the starter/grower until 16 weeks :/

Thanks so much in advance for all your help

Welcome to BYC!

Sounds like you have a great start to your integration....the neutral territory is a very good move.
I'd keep letting them just range together for a few weeks....then open up the run so they can mingle there.
Pics of your setup would be nice to see for more detailed suggestions.

Here's some of my notes for now, something(s) in there might help.
Integration:
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.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, tho some info is outdated IMO:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock



and on feeding:
I like to feed a flock raiser/starter/grower/finisher type feed with 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (a freshly trapped mouse, mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided once in while and during molting and/or if I see any feather eating.