Introducing/Reintroducing

[Copperboom]

So I have a complicated situation. I had a hen go broody so I separated her and her chicks from the main group because I didn't want the littles getting through chain link fencing and getting stepped on by a horse or goat. Then I had a pair of foxes show up and luckily I was present at the time and scared them off but while everyone used to free range during the day, they are now locked up. I added an additional coop and an electric net fence (about 20' x 40') for the bigs to peck around in under direct supervision. I also bought some new chicks so I currently have three separate groups. I'd like them to all be one group eventually but I hear it may take a long time and I need help figuring out what the steps are. Currently in my coop condo I have the bigs at one end, mama and her chicks in the middle and the new chicks at the other end. They are all completely separate but can see one another. I think I leave them like this for a couple weeks? Then what I think the next step may be is to put a divider between mama and the new chicks so that they can go in between her middle area and their coop but she can't get into their side yet? What's the next step after they are all co-mingling? Do a creep barrier on the bigs side? Or do supervised visits while out in the fenced yard?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You can do it several ways. Integrate the new chicks with the broody momma and her chicks, then as that group is well integrated, and old enough to mingle with the older group, open dividers to allow open area mixing while the smaller can still get back to their protected area.

You didn't state the age differences between brooded chicks and purchased, so momma could simply try to integrate all the chicks into her brood... or look at the new chicks as invaders, which could cause problems for the purchased chicks. Totally depends on the mother and her instincts.

The other thought, you can integrate the broody hen with the olders fairly early. I like about 2 weeks of age in this circumstance as mom will still mother the chicks and defend them, but the chicks are big enough to get out of the way of any tussles. Then mother and chicks become part of the older flock, with momma integrating the chicks into the flock. If you have as savvy rooster, he will integrate momma and chicks for you with the older flock. However, if you have an aggressive flock and a submissive mother, this could cause chick loss if the chicks are attacked while one member diverts the mother. I simply won't allow those kind of birds in the flock, but you will have to intervene if you have that kind of aggression.

If mom integrates babes well into the older flock, then you integrate the feed store chicks at about 10 weeks or so, when they are big enough to hold their own.

Always stand by and have a plan B if things go awry. My philosophy is to remove any bird from the property that is unnecessarily aggressive. Over time I now have a laid back flock that takes chick integration in stride. It's pretty amazing how most broody hens tell the others to back off and they simply accept the babes. A good rooster will also help keep friction down. I totally raise by broody hens now due to the ease of flock integration (as well as they do all the incubation work.) I can now brood in the main coop and have babes out at about day 2 or 3 completely safe from harm the flock....but I do have to plug holes in the fence...and watch out from hawks.

Good luck,
LofMc

 

[Copperboom]

You can do it several ways. Integrate the new chicks with the broody momma and her chicks, then as that group is well integrated, and old enough to mingle with the older group, open dividers to allow open area mixing while the smaller can still get back to their protected area.

You didn't state the age differences between brooded chicks and purchased, so momma could simply try to integrate all the chicks into her brood... or look at the new chicks as invaders, which could cause problems for the purchased chicks. Totally depends on the mother and her instincts.

The other thought, you can integrate the broody hen with the olders fairly early. I like about 2 weeks of age in this circumstance as mom will still mother the chicks and defend them, but the chicks are big enough to get out of the way of any tussles. Then mother and chicks become part of the older flock, with momma integrating the chicks into the flock. If you have as savvy rooster, he will integrate momma and chicks for you with the older flock. However, if you have an aggressive flock and a submissive mother, this could cause chick loss if the chicks are attacked while one member diverts the mother. I simply won't allow those kind of birds in the flock, but you will have to intervene if you have that kind of aggression.

If mom integrates babes well into the older flock, then you integrate the feed store chicks at about 10 weeks or so, when they are big enough to hold their own.

Always stand by and have a plan B if things go awry. My philosophy is to remove any bird from the property that is unnecessarily aggressive. Over time I now have a laid back flock that takes chick integration in stride. It's pretty amazing how most broody hens tell the others to back off and they simply accept the babes. A good rooster will also help keep friction down. I totally raise by broody hens now due to the ease of flock integration (as well as they do all the incubation work.) I can now brood in the main coop and have babes out at about day 2 or 3 completely safe from harm the flock....but I do have to plug holes in the fence...and watch out from hawks.

Good luck,
LofMc

Great info, thank you. I separated all the boys from mamas group because she began picking on them. I left her with 3 girls. The store bought group has some incubated chicks and all the chicks are within 6 days of each other in age. I did try putting her back with the bigs but there are two EE hens that were a bit aggressive although this mom, Gilda, used to be the top hen. Her sister Maude was just below her in rank but totally attacked Gilda. And it flopped between Gilda telling the EE girls off to Maude attacking Gilda, the EE girls attacking Gilda because they are joiners and the whole time the rooster is running around nervously "wringing his hands". He would have loved the babies I think. But I am back to square one.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Great info, thank you. I separated all the boys from mamas group because she began picking on them. I left her with 3 girls. The store bought group has some incubated chicks and all the chicks are within 6 days of each other in age. I did try putting her back with the bigs but there are two EE hens that were a bit aggressive although this mom, Gilda, used to be the top hen. Her sister Maude was just below her in rank but totally attacked Gilda. And it flopped between Gilda telling the EE girls off to Maude attacking Gilda, the EE girls attacking Gilda because they are joiners and the whole time the rooster is running around nervously "wringing his hands". He would have loved the babies I think. But I am back to square one.

With that additional info, then it sounds like your best recourse will be to integrate mother and store boughts removing cockerels....then when those chicks are about 10 weeks of age, give or take, trying to integrate into the main flock.

Unfortunately you have aggressive birds in your main flock which is going to make any integration a challenge, and you have a broody hen who does not appreciate other chicks.

Let them all get old enough to forage and run on their own, with plenty of space, hiding places, and food water. In time, they will hopefully integrate better. If you have a continuously contankerous hen, I'd remove her to "time out" and let her get knocked down a bit in pecking order although I find they tend to scrap even harder when they rejoin to regain their spot. I personally simply choose to rehome the cranky ones to make flock life peaceful. It takes some time to manipulate the flock so that you can add birds peacefully.

Good luck.
LofMc