Introducing pullets to existing flock

[lutherpug]

It's rewarding to observe this process of assimilation, and very gratifying to see that moment when the new crew has the confidence to finally stand up to the original crew and take their places in the flock. This usually happens between two and three weeks after they been introduced.

My integration is taking way longer than 3 weeks but I suspect it would have gone smoother if my RIR hen wasn't such a relentless bully to the pullets. I think if she were out of the mix 2-3 weeks may have been realistic.

People way more experienced than I have given great advice here but I'll give you an idea that helped us out when we first introduced our pullets to our existing flock. We built a small table about 2.5 feet tall and put it in the run with a separate feeder on it. What ended up happening is that my hens spend almost all of their time on the floor of the run and the pullets spend all of their time on that table or in the coop where there is a separate waterer. In all I have 2 water buckets and 3 feeders for 6 chickens. Overkill? Maybe.....but it has worked like a charm to not only have multiple feeders and waterers but also different vertical spaces where the pullets can relax a little and not have to keep a constant eye out for an attack. It was either @aart or @azygous who gave me this idea and it was a lifesaver.

 

[Mrs. K]

Another thing, which will sound crazy, but if you lock the big girls out of the run for a while, with just the young girls in the run. This lets them get adjusted and find the hideouts without being in a panic, and the old girls get used to seeing them in there.

I agree with lutherpug, with the table, only I did the table so that it was pretty low to the ground. A full grown bird could get under there, and did, but it really slowed them down, and the little ones could escape, I fed mine there too.

MRs K

 

[Spartan22]

With integration every year, I did all of the above: couple of pallet tables w/ feeds under and over: 4 waterers and 4 feeders; multiple perches in the run and coop; partitioned for 3-4 wks See but no touch; constructed 12' Chicken wire tunnels, blocked off older ones from the coop, all worked great some with combination of all suggestions from great techniques of people here. This year will be my 4th integration hopefully work as well.

 

[aart]

The pullets are as tall as the exisiting flock, they just need to fill out a bit now.

I went in to check the eggs this morning and all of the existing crew, except for my alpha-guinea crept over to the pullets. I've closed the gate and kept them that way, no one is distressed. I have been shoo-ing the pullets off the roost from time to time for them to come down to eat and drink. The exisiting crew aren't vicious, just bossy. So the only problem I seem to have is the pullets hiding and not attempting to integrate.

That's where lots of space and multiple feed/water stations can really help.
It may take weeks for the newbies to eat/drink next to the older birds.
The newbies will stay a 'sub-flock' until they start to lay, then they will start working their way into the pecking order of the main flock.

It is like school! And the existing flock are the mean girls!

Exactly!! ......and like in real life, there will always be 'mean girls', age doesn't change that much.

 

[Spartan22]

That's where lots of space and multiple feed/water stations can really help.
It may take weeks for the newbies to eat/drink next to the older birds.
The newbies will stay a 'sub-flock' until they start to lay, then they will start working their way into the pecking order of the main flock.

Exactly!! ......and like in real life, there will always be 'mean girls', age doesn't change that much.

So true, I've never paid attention to that idea at my work place until I have hens. The oldies (ladies) swallows the newer employees continuously, while the guys either become friends or just avoid one another without issues. No offense to the ladies just an observation, since I thought women by nature are nurturing based on my experience growing up (my mom & teachers)

 

[LiveInBliss]

Hey All! We have 6 pullets about 10/11 weeks in an airy dog crate in coop(which is a large old shed) and are introducing them to an established 9 hen flock. They have been in the crate for 5 weeks and roaming yard outside of coop area but never face to face with the hens. A few questions... it is getting harder and harder to separate them because they are running out of space in crate.. I am mentally ready to let them integrate but it still gets down to 45 degrees at night (denver). Will they find their heat lamp at night or stay warm without it? Also, at 10/11 weeks they are still on starter feed.. will the hens start preferring that or can I just put pullets on adult feed now since they will be all Together? A little scattered sorry.. I feel like everyone is ready to bite the bullet and let these babies figure it out.

All advice welcome!
Thanks!

 

[aart]

Hey All! We have 6 pullets about 10/11 weeks in an airy dog crate in coop(which is a large old shed) and are introducing them to an established 9 hen flock. They have been in the crate for 5 weeks and roaming yard outside of coop area but never face to face with the hens. A few questions... it is getting harder and harder to separate them because they are running out of space in crate.. I am mentally ready to let them integrate but it still gets down to 45 degrees at night (denver). Will they find their heat lamp at night or stay warm without it? Also, at 10/11 weeks they are still on starter feed.. will the hens start preferring that or can I just put pullets on adult feed now since they will be all Together? A little scattered sorry.. I feel like everyone is ready to bite the bullet and let these babies figure it out.

All advice welcome!
Thanks!

They are still using heat lamp at 10-11 weeks?
I get mine of heat by about 4 weeks, even out in coop.

Depends on your 'adult' feed.
They should not be eating layer.
I use an all flock' type feed for all birds...oyster shell in separate container for layers.

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