Introducing younger hens to an existing flock

[SnowflakeMama]

Hi everyone,
I've been searching and reading others' posts so I'm familiar (I think) with most recommendations for introducing new birds to your flock, but I'm in need of reassurance - or straight up advice, if you think I'm going about this wrong. I had a plan all sorted in my head and it's not working out as I'd thought. (Big surprise! haha!)

The backstory, so you know what we're dealing with...
In March we got 14 birds, 7 of which ended up being roosters. So far they all get on well but since we know that will come to an end (and probably not a good one) we've now separated out 5 of the roo's into an adjoining pen with covered and uncovered space and their own roosting area until it's time for them to go. So they should be happy enough, and are not competing for the girls' attentions in the meantime. We are left with one roo who is definitely the man of the house, and our second roo we are keeping more as a pet - his feet developed incorrectly and we didn't catch it in time to try to fix it so he can't fly/run/jump quite like the rest of our birds. He's quite slow and gentle so we're hoping that as a second roo he'll be okay and not cause aggressiveness or compete for any of the girls. (But we're keeping watch, if there are problems he'll have to move too.)

Recently we were given two more hens from the same farm which are a few weeks younger than our original girls. They're a bit smaller than the rest because of their age, and definitely quieter and timid with the big girls still. I've kept them in a separate part of the coop with their own food, water, roost, etc. I've allowed them some time to free range together, and some supervised time in the coop and run with the group but they're still staying on their own for the most part. One of our roosters was harassing them a bit and I had to put a stop to it and send him on his way. Things seem okay now, they're all co-habitating and not being harrassed... they're just not joining in, they always seem to be off in their own little twosome.

So here are my questions, if anyone has suggestions it would be very appreciated!

1. Do I need to worry that they don't really want to be part of the flock yet?
2. Should I go back a step and give them more time in a separate space?
3. Should I pull the last two roos as well, and keep the boys & girls in separate but adjoining pens while the new girls get used to things? (With the idea that maybe the roos presence is too intimidating?)

Any thoughts welcome, even criticism, I'm really worried I've already buggered this up. They seem okay... just not really settled in. Maybe I'm just expecting too much too soon?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Alaskan]

As long as the two new girls are getting to eat and drink( watch a bit and see if any of the original flock keep them away from the feed and water), it doesn't matter if they stay to themselves.

There are often sub-groups in a flock, as long as everyone gets to eat and drink, and there is no bloodshed, all good.

As to males...the problem with keeping the cockerel with the funky feet... if you do, don't ever hatch your own eggs. Even with a disability, he might still on occasion breed....

I like waiting until the males are at least 6 months, and then pick one to keep for breeding.

I chose based on personality first, everything else second.

 

[Mrs. K]

If there is no blood, you are winning, leave it alone. Do make sure there are hidden feed bowls where as a chicken eating at a feed station is out of sight of other chickens eating at a different bowl.

I too, would not keep the rooster with the bad feet. They often cause excessive damage to hens feathers when they mount. You really want the best conformation you can get in a rooster. And with less than a dozen hens (9?) two roosters is often times too many roosters.

I do like that you are realistic about your roosters, as there really is a chance that none of them will work. Cull in stages - these I don't want, get them gone, wait. Then they should separate into the maybe a good one, probably not groups. Remove the not group. Then make your last pick.

Roosters are really not great roosters until they are about 1 year old. If you have a good one at a year of age, they have always been good for me. Up til them, rather a crapshoot.

Mrs K

 

[SnowflakeMama]

As to males...the problem with keeping the cockerel with the funky feet... if you do, don't ever hatch your own eggs. Even with a disability, he might still on occasion breed....

I like waiting until the males are at least 6 months, and then pick one to keep for breeding.

I chose based on personality first, everything else second.

Oh, that's a good point. At this point I have no plans for hatching eggs but if that changes I'll have to give him a separate space.

And thank you for the reassurance on the young girls. They do seem fine, it's just hard to see them separate themselves from the group. But there are no missing feathers, injuries, or stress that I can see so I'll just keep watch and let them settle in.

Thank you!

 

[SnowflakeMama]

If there is no blood, you are winning, leave it alone. Do make sure there are hidden feed bowls where as a chicken eating at a feed station is out of sight of other chickens eating at a different bowl.

I did think of the extra feed yesterday and I've stashed extra feeders and bowls in several places. I haven't seen the big girls keeping the young ones away from food/water but I'm not out there 24/7 so I thought better to be on the safe side.

I too, would not keep the rooster with the bad feet. They often cause excessive damage to hens feathers when they mount. You really want the best conformation you can get in a rooster. And with less than a dozen hens (9?) two roosters is often times too many roosters.

I do like that you are realistic about your roosters, as there really is a chance that none of them will work. Cull in stages - these I don't want, get them gone, wait. Then they should separate into the maybe a good one, probably not groups. Remove the not group. Then make your last pick.

Roosters are really not great roosters until they are about 1 year old. If you have a good one at a year of age, they have always been good for me. Up til them, rather a crapshoot.

Mrs K

I hadn't thought of the trouble his feet might cause when trying to breed, I'll have to create some separate accommodations for him sooner than I'd planned I think. Eventually we will have 14 hens, when our new babies grow up and join the flock, but that's a ways away still and I only ever planned to keep one roo anyway - I just feel in love with my crooked-footed boy and hoped to keep him.

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions, much appreciated!