Introduction of New Birds Gone Sour...

[Carwile Chicks]

Hi there!

I have 3 Americunas and 2 Golden Comets. Both groups about 7-8 Monty. I just picked up three 4 month old buff Orpington‘s from on Tuesday. They are beautiful! Problem: my five girls have not excepted them yet. They try to keep them from the food and water supply. I have to physically go in the coop and provide food and water for the newbies.

1. What are your experiences adding new birds to your flock?
Do you have any suggestions on helping them to come together as one flock?

I do know pecking order is taking place. I guess feel so sad to see two separate groups of birds instead of seeing one big happy family...

 

[the_peanut_coop]

My experience is: One bossy hen really doesn't want other members so she bullies them. I seperated the most problematic hen, and water gun sprayed the ones who just pecked once or twice. After several days of the meanest hen being separated, I add her back in. Everything worked out after that.

 

[Carwile Chicks]

Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Best to provide multiple feeders and waterers, placed well apart from one another with clutter in the way to break line of sight.

Clutter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Example of how my run is laid out. Pink Xs are feed locations in morning, with an additional feeder in the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

Did you do a "See But Don't Touch" integration or just dump strangers into the flock's territory?

Chickens are territorial and need time to get used to change. Here's an excellent article that you will probably find helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/

 

[Ribh]

I do very slow integrations keeping the new birds in their own coop for weeks or even a few months. After the initial quarantine period I let my old girls into the run where they can see the newbies but not get to them. There may be some chest butting through the wire. They will share spilled feed along the wire line. Once the older girls more or less ignore the newbies I allow the newbies into the large run area. The 1st time out they are on their own so they can find their way about, know the hiding spots & the way back to their coop. I may do this several times to be sure the new girls are confident before allowing both groups out together. If there is any harassment I separate the new girls & try again in a few days. When the new girls decide it's time to investigate the big coop is when I do a full integration moving the new girls onto a roost in the big coop after dark. I make sure I am up early the next morning to monitor their interactions. I will often put food & water in the coop for the new girls while they adjust to the change in their routine but by the 3rd morning everyone has the new routine down pat, the new girls are confidently finding their way downstairs & have their turn @ the feeders & water. I have very smooth integrations & rarely see any serious fighting or jockeying for position.

 

[3KillerBs]

P.S. To my previous post,

I documented my recent integration of young birds into my existing flock here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integrating-the-splits-documenting-the-process.1469700/

As of this morning, the adult hens eat first but don't drive the youngsters away from the feeders once respect has been demonstrated.