Introduction Question!

[ANiceKaren]

Hey everyone! So I’m considering introducing my new 7 week old pullets to my 14 week old hens and rooster. I have 2, 7 week old girls and 2, 14 week old ladies and one unplanned rooster! At this point he is a good boy! Anyway, they have been living full time side by side in a parallel run divided by chicken wire for 3 weeks. While they seem interested in each other and maybe a few small pecks through the wire, they seem fine with one another. I was considering letting them free range together. What do you all think? They are much different in size and I definitely don’t want one of my littles to get hurt. I wouldn’t put them together full time until they are roughly same size but what about free ranging? thanks for the advice!

 

[BeanBoy]

I think it would be fine if they free ranged together, but it would be a good idea to check on them every once in a while to make sure that they are somewhat getting along.

 

[ANiceKaren]

I think it would be fine if they free ranged together, but it would be a good idea to check on them every once in a while to make sure that they are somewhat getting along.

Ok... I did it! I let them free range together and for the most part I think it was ok...?! My rooster did peck one of my little ones twice kind of hard... but then went about his merry way. The little girls ran when the big ones chased or tried to peck them. I’ll keep trying daily!

 

[BeanBoy]

It's expected that the chicks would be pecked at. I believe that that is just the older chickens' way of telling them that they are at the bottom of the flock's pecking order because they are new and younger (I hope that makes some sense). If you haven't already, you could place some cardboard boxes with a few holes that are bigger than the chicks, but smaller than all the other chickens around the area they free range so that the chicks have places to hide in case they are being chased.

 

[ANiceKaren]

It's expected that the chicks would be pecked at. I believe that that is just the older chickens' way of telling them that they are at the bottom of the flock's pecking order because they are new and younger (I hope that makes some sense). If you haven't already, you could place some cardboard boxes with a few holes that are bigger than the chicks, but smaller than all the other chickens around the area they free range so that the chicks have places to hide in case they are being chased.

Thanks so much! My rooster seems to be the only aggressor. He just pecked my little one and came away with a few feathers... no blood though. My hens seem to be more accepting. Maybe it’ll go better when they get a little bigger

 

[aart]

Pecking Happens!
Sounds like it's going well enough.
Did they both go back to their own enclosures after ranging time?

So I’m considering introducing my new 7 week old pullets to my 14 week old hens and rooster.

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.


Here's some tips that may help....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[ANiceKaren]

Pecking Happens!
Sounds like it's going well enough.
Did they both go back to their own enclosures after ranging time?


FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.


Here's some tips that may help....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Thank you again for this! I forgot about this great answer previously! The older pullets seem to not care about the young ones much. A little chasing but then they go about their way. My cockerel (15 weeks) seems to peck and peck hard! He pulled a mouthful of feathers from my young one when I tried to introduce. Do you think he will eventually accept them? They did go into their own coops for the night. The rooster peck was pretty bad so I’m now afraid to try it again!

 

[aart]

My cockerel (15 weeks) seems to peck and peck hard! He pulled a mouthful of feathers from my young one when I tried to introduce. Do you think he will eventually accept them? They did go into their own coops for the night. The rooster peck was pretty bad so I’m now afraid to try it again!

Might want to separate him and intro the girls.
Is he harassing the older girls too?
Do you really want a cock/erel?
They can be more of a PITA than they are worth.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Might want to separate him and intro the girls.
Is he harassing the older girls too?
Do you really want a cock/erel?
They can be more of a PITA than they are worth.

I really didn’t want a cockerel... but we’re a little attached and so far he has been nice. Outside of a few pecks here and there he is great to other girls. They seem bonded. He hasn’t fully matured so I’m kind of expecting him to get worse. great idea about introducing without him! I’m sure that would go better! I’ll try that today. He is going to be so mad. My neighbor is willing to take him for her flock but she has a rooster already... if not we may need another option if he doesn’t work out.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would leave your set up. And make sure there are plenty of escapes or hideouts, or areas a bigger bird cannot get to, but a smaller bird can with ease, such as a pallet on cement blocks just barely off the ground.

But leave the chick set up, because if he gets difficult, you can put him there for a while and see how it is going to go. People often say, he is a darling and our favorite, hoping against hope that they got a great rooster, but it can still go south pretty dang fast, and you will have a place to put him. A plan B, always have a plan B if you have a rooster.

MrsK