Introduction of my roo and 3 pullets into flock I chickened out!

[bethgranberg]

I have a beautiful white wynadotte roo and 3 pullets about 3 months old seperated by a wire dog cage in my large outdoor run from my established flock of year old and 4 year old pullets. This morning went out and decided today is the day my orphington pullet ran out and was doing great mingling with the other hens untill the roo saw she was out free ranging on the other side of the fence. He was not happy with her and started to get upset i quickly grabbed her and threw her back in the enclosure, I think I am more nervous than they are!!! Do I just let them do what they will do and not interfere?? I am having a tough time I am so protective of the young flock..time to cut the apron strings..advice??

 

[terryg]

It's always easier when the introduced chickens are fully feathered out and mature. It's also easier when you can let them into a large area to free-range so that there's room to run away and not get cornered. You can break up aggression simply by walking between he challengers. Even better is to distract everyone with a few chunks of watermelon. I have more hints here: http://hencam.com/faq/introducing-new-hens/
But, I don't keep roosters, so maybe someone with a roo will chime in.

 

[bethgranberg]

Thank You for your reply I like the idea of putting them together at night when they are sleeping. Never thought of that!

 

[amorrill]

If you put them together while sleeping, plan to be sitting coop-side first thing in the morning. I have tried that twice now, and nobody was the least bit fooled.

 

[bethgranberg]

ok thank you very much appreciate the advice

 

[PeachygirlGA]

Mine were mixed together purely by accident and I realized I had nothing to worry about! My son didn't fix the separation fence correctly and the next morning I woke up and looked outside and the fence was down! I did panic and ran out there, but everybody was just hanging around together like it was nothing. Crazy! Fence has been down ever since with no troubles. I might add that they were side by side for a couple of months before this happened, so they "knew" each other just had not been together.

 

[bobbi-j]

No matter when you mix them, there will be some scuffles as they establish their pecking order. Yep, someone might even get a bloody comb. Unless it's so brutal you don't think one will survive, I'd just let them sort it out. Your only other option is to always keep them separated.