Introducing new pullets

[Chickadeedeedeedee]

We are in the process of introducing 2 new pullets. They are about 12 weeks old. We have 3 adult hens that are 2 years old. We kept the pullets separate for a week in a dog crate within the run. Then they were allowed to mingle with supervision. After seeing that no blood was drawn and the bigger hens were being nice enough, I've been letting them stay out all day together. I notice that the older hens still chase them and they spend a lot of time separated - like 2 mini flocks. The pullets still sleep in the dog crate. I haven't attempted moving them to the coop with the others because I'm nervous it won't go well! Should I just keep doing what I'm doing until they learn to live in harmony? I figure eventually it will happen and they will follow the others to the coop at night. Suggestions?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They will co-exist, but will for some part forever maintain their individual groups. The older ones pushing the littles around is normal and as long as there are no injuries it needs to happen. Otherwise you will have continual fights without an established pecking order. I introduce new pullets every year and while they eventually figure out the pecking order with who is who they still stay in their original cliques with who they were raised with. If the kennel isn’t in the way of things and safely in the secured area I would leave it there open another week or so then remove it.

 

[Chickadeedeedeedee]

They will co-exist, but will for some part forever maintain their individual groups. The older ones pushing the littles around is normal and as long as there are no injuries it needs to happen. Otherwise you will have continual fights without an established pecking order. I introduce new pullets every year and while they eventually figure out the pecking order with who is who they still stay in their original cliques with who they were raised with. If the kennel isn’t in the way of things and safely in the secured area I would leave it there open another week or so then remove it.

Thanks! I figured they'd stay in cliques possibly forever! The kennel is open during the day and they all have access to it. The little ones retreat there sometimes for a rest. Hopefully another week and they can at least start sleeping in the coop!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Should I just keep doing what I'm doing until they learn to live in harmony?

My definition of harmony is that the older do not go out of their way to harm the younger. My flock is set up quite a bit differently from yours but what I see is that the pullets remain a sub-flock and keep their distance from the older ones until the pullets start to lay. My main coop is big enough that the young can sleep in there with the older ones and still avoid them. At night the mature ones sleep on the roosts while the others find a safer place to sleep. When they wake up the young ones go to the roosts where they are out of reach or the older ones on the coop floor. After I open the pop door in the morning they have enough room outside they can stay a long way away from the adults. I have separate food and water stations so they can eat and drink without challenging the adults.

I have no idea what your coop or run looks like or how they may sort that out. To me the more room the better but many people make it work without a lot of room.

I've been letting them stay out all day together. I notice that the older hens still chase them and they spend a lot of time separated - like 2 mini flocks.

Do your hens go out of their way to chase them or is it only when the young invade their personal space? If your run is fairly small the young may not be able to avoid getting in the adults' personal space when the adults walk toward them.

I haven't attempted moving them to the coop with the others because I'm nervous it won't go well!

How much of a burden to you is keeping them in that kennel at night? One option is to keep letting them sleep there until they either move in the main coop on their own or they start to lay. Once they start to lay they should get along.

Or you can move them into the main coop now and see what happens. The way I do that is to wait until it gets dark so they are easy to catch and the older ones can't see well enough to attack them at night. Then be down there at daybreak to let them out until you feel confident that you can sleep in without the younger getting hurt. Often that's all it takes, after one night they go in by themselves. But sometimes they go back to the old place to sleep so I have to keep moving them every night until they get the message of where to go to bed.

Good luck!

 

[Chickadeedeedeedee]

Update: today seemed better! The older hens only chased the littles when they got in their personal space and when I went out to lockup the pullets, they weren't in the dog kennel because they were in the coop! It's a small coop with enough roosting space for them all but the pullets were on the floor tonight. I'm just glad they went in on their own! I think we're on our way to peace!