Introducing New Hens

[MathildaMcThunderthighs]

I have 3 buff orpington Hens that are about a year and a half old and about 6 weeks ago I got 8 baby chicks of all different breeds. We are keeping the babies in a broader that is about 3 feet tall, 5 feet long and 3 feet wide, but recently all the chicks have shown they can easily fly out of the broader when the lid gets opened. Every day I let the BOs and the babies free range for at least an hour and yesterday was the first day we had any interaction between the 2 generations of chickens when we let them eat some fresh corn and watermelon together and it actually went really well. Since this is only my second batch of chicks ever, how do you think I should introduce them to live with the BOs? I am pretty nervous because one of the BOs (Named Ginger) is very aggressive towards people and also bullies the other chickens. I assume she is on the top of the pecking order for sure but when they were eating together yesterday she didn't seem to mind the newcomers. Any ideas how I should start getting them to live together?

 

[Erin80]

I've found free ranging them together as much as you can works really well.....at least that's what has worked for me. I split my coop and run in half...divided by a screen, and I put the new ones on one side and the oldies on the other side. I keep them like that, but I free range them together all day most days.
Eventually I take the screen down in the run but leave the coop separated....so they can roost away from each other if they want. I'm at the point now (finally) where I can remove the screen from inside the coop too because everyone has accepted everyone and there is peace in the flock (just in time to introduce 3 more young ones in a few weeks! Haha....).
Good luck. It can be a lengthy process depending on temperaments. The head of my flock passed away due to heat a few weeks ago, and that's when everyone really started to get along....she was somewhat aggressive and bossy to the new chickens, so with her gone, everyone relaxed.
Also.....an aggressive to humans BO....I've never heard of that! That's crazy! They are usually so docile and sweet

 

[MathildaMcThunderthighs]

I've found free ranging them together as much as you can works really well.....at least that's what has worked for me. I split my coop and run in half...divided by a screen, and I put the new ones on one side and the oldies on the other side. I keep them like that, but I free range them together all day most days.
Eventually I take the screen down in the run but leave the coop separated....so they can roost away from each other if they want. I'm at the point now (finally) where I can remove the screen from inside the coop too because everyone has accepted everyone and there is peace in the flock (just in time to introduce 3 more young ones in a few weeks! Haha....).
Good luck. It can be a lengthy process depending on temperaments. The head of my flock passed away due to heat a few weeks ago, and that's when everyone really started to get along....she was somewhat aggressive and bossy to the new chickens, so with her gone, everyone relaxed.
Also.....an aggressive to humans BO....I've never heard of that! That's crazy! They are usually so docile and sweet

Thank you so much that is very helpful to know! I will definitely let them free range more in the run we just connected to our coop more often! And yeah i know it is wierd but ever since my other BO who used to be the head of the flock passed away due to a fox attack, Ginger became very aggressive to everyone who came by her Anyways thanks again and good luck with introducing the new babys!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since they seem to be getting along you can start having them spend more time together, whether out free ranging or in side by side runs, or in a single run with obstacles to provide cover for the chicks. Helps if you also put out multiple feeders or even waterers, to prevent the hens from guarding resources. If everything goes well out in the run/free range area, after a few days you can try introducing the chicks to the coop.

Also the dominant bird won't necessarily be the one picking on chicks. My head hen is the most tolerant of my chicks, but the bottom of the pecking order is the one that harasses them the most.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As you can quickly see reading through the above responses the individual personality of the chicken is more important than breed, pecking order position, or anything else. That's why each flock has its own unique dynamics and no one can give you a true guarantee as to how they will behave. Still there are trends and we can maybe help you with practices that improve your odds.

First of all, you are doing great. My definition of a successful integration with the ages you have is that no one is getting hurt. They do not need to sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows to make s'mores, cuddling up and loving on each other. Not hurting each other is enough.

Until the young ones mature they typically don't crowd in with the adults. it is not that unusual for an older hen to peck an immature chick if the chick invades her personal space. Even in your photo they are keeping some separation though I love how close they are together.

One of the keys to them sleeping in the same coop is how much room is in that coop. That's not a matter of square feet per chicken, it is more about can they all sleep in there without being too close to each other. With living animals there are always exceptions, but typically my pullets do not sleep on the main roosts with the adult until they start laying. Until then they tend to sleep on the coop floor or on something else. Sometimes that can be your nests. To help avoid mine sleeping in the nests I put up a juvenile roost, lower than the main roosts and horizontally separated by a few feet but still higher than the nests. I don't know that yours will wind up sleeping in your nests but if they do and you have enough room that might be a solution.

Other than your convenience there is no reason yours need to be sleeping together now. What I suggest is that you continue to let them roam together during the day for another month or even more if you wish. That may be overkill but let them really get used to each other. Then when they go to bed, move them to the main coop and lock them in for the night. I just put them on the coop floor and let them sort out where they sleep. They manage. Lock up that other coop so they cannot go back in it the next day. That may be all they need to move to the main coop, it often is for mine. But sometimes I have to physically move them in there every night after dark for a week or more. As I said earlier, each chicken is an individual.

The next morning I make a point to be down there really early to open the pop door so the young ones can escape if they need to. That has ever been an issue with mine and my large coop, but with living animals you just never know. I like to be cautious.

With sufficient room in the coop and outside and a little patience integration can be this easy. It's always possible one of your hens is a mentally deranged psychopath of a brute that seeks out chicks to destroy them. The tighter the space the more likely you are to have issues. I don't know the size and layout of your main coop but you are sure doing great outside. Hope that continues for you.

 

[aart]

Great job so far.....free ranging can definitely help with integration.
Size and configuration of your coop and run can make a big difference too.
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[MathildaMcThunderthighs]

Thanks so much for all the replys! I am pretty new to owning chickens like I said and this has really helped! Using the tips you guys gave, my plan now is to let them free range more together every day in a new 10x10 run we put up for about a week. Then, depending on how all the chickens react to each other, start letting the chicks into the coop. Thanks again for the tips and to answer your question aart, I am from Michigan as well! Thank you for the welcome

 

[aart]

10x10 run might be tight for 11 birds not yet integrated.
Put up some hiding places and lots of diversion:
2x2's and branches for roosts, logs, stumps, pallets leaned against wall or up on concrete blocks, grazing frames, old table/chairs/benches.


How big is your coop, in feet by feet?

Think about winter too, having a predator and weather proof run will help a bunch once the snow starts piling up.

 

[MathildaMcThunderthighs]

10x10 run might be tight for 11 birds not yet integrated.
Put up some hiding places and lots of diversion:
2x2's and branches for roosts, logs, stumps, pallets leaned against wall or up on concrete blocks, grazing frames, old table/chairs/benches.


How big is your coop, in feet by feet?

Think about winter too, having a predator and weather proof run will help a bunch once the snow starts piling up.

The 10x10 run is actually just temporary for now to get the birds used to each other but I will make sure to make it safe for all the babies. We have a coop that is about 5x3 that has 2 levels and 4 very roosts in it and 6 nesting boxes. Surrounding the coop is a 20x20 6' tall fence that can link up to the 10x10 run (we are planning on attaching it later to make it bigger.) We have many predators like a family of foxes and a nest of hawks that live in out backyard so we already have made sure that everything is very secure and every time I let them free range in our yard I make sure to sit out with them. I don't have pictures sadly because I am actually on a vacation for the weekend by Pictured Rocks but when I get back I can try if you would like to see it.