Introducing pullets to the flock

[my little peeps]

I have a HUGE dilemma. I have 4-14 week
old chicks and one 8 week old chick. We originally had 5 all the same age but unfortunately we had to get rid of our rooster.i have had the little chick in a pen near the bigger girls for three weeks, then this past week I decided to allow them to free range for 1/2 a day in hopes that will help with introduction. Nope! They chase her, peck her and now she's always running from them. Any suggestions??

 

[aggiemae]

^^^ over the years I have learned that it's almost impossible to introduce just one younger chick. When I add new members to the flock I add the at least the same number in the existing flock but have had the best luck when i have added the same number plus one.

 

[my little peeps]

Ya, I tried to explain that to my husband (obviously didn't do any good). Tonight she is roosting with the others so we will see how it goes. I've been free ranging them more and more together in hopes they will accept her even if she's the lowest in the pecking order.

 

[NinetreesMom]

I had a similar issue last year with a replacement chick that was about 2 weeks older than my pullets. I think they were about 6 and 8 weeks. I eventually just had to let them duke it out. I watched to make sure it didn't get too violent, and after about 2 days they were a flock. Definitely easier when the lone chick is older. This years chicks are still housed separately at night...I decided my hen house is too small. All the chickens free range during the day, but they stay in 2 separate flocks (4 chickens each) during the day.

 

[Roo Boy]

Not to hijack the thread....but when will pullets begin free ranging with a already established flock? My 17 week old pullets get along fairly well with the older hens and rooster, but they go their separate ways during free range time.

 

[NinetreesMom]

My pullets just reached 17 weeks. They have been free ranging with the hens for about a month now. They do stay fairly separate, but mingle some too. Due to space issues I just had to move them into the big girls coop about a week ago. They still have not integrated, and have ended up sleeping on the roof of my low hen house! (the coop is covered by a tarp, so they stay dry). OK for now, but hopefully they work things out before winter!

 

[Roo Boy]

We did the after dark slip in too. It worked OK. They get along fine in the run, but have no interest in flocking together. It sounds like it takes time before they are one big happy family.

 

[TammyTX]

I have 4 1/2 year olds and four 10 week olds all get along fine, but the babies separate themselves. Occasionally one will get a "reminder who is boss" peck, but nothing vicious.

First I bought two 8 week olds (now 10 wks) and showed them the ropes, where the food and water is and the coop. Then after a week I bought the second two and let the first two show them where everything is. It worked for me. The four little ones are best buds now.

Today I received 16 baby chicks. My plan is to keep them in a brooder (i.e. empty water trough) for about 4 weeks and then set them loose with the others and let them learn from them. I'm thinking that eventually the younger ones will all bond, and the older ones...will eventually go to that big coop in the sky.

I had a surprise chick hatch last year and that was the easiest thing ever 'cause the mama did all of the work!! ...turned out to be a roo, of course.

 

[aggiemae]

Our have been together 24/7 for over two months. The turned into one flock when the pullets started to lay but there is still some pecking when it comes to sharing treats.