Managing the flock

[Jaychickenbird]

I have 23 varied hens 20 weeks old in the big pen and coop and 9 hens 8 weeks old in a separate inside pen.
When is it safe to introduce the 9 into the run and coop with the others?
Any precautions I should take?

 

[50-45-1]

Introduce the new birds in stages. Have your 9 birds in a wire cage where they can be seen by the 20. If you can set the cage inside the big coop would be best.
After a few days if the cage has no bottom you can prop one end up far enouh that the young birds can go in and out but the biger birds can not. This way the younger can escape bulling if needed.
Make sure there is some other places for the younger ones to hide and get away inside your coop and run.
Watch them as close as you can to make sure they dont get to beat up on.
It may take time. Make sure to give your bigger birds other things to do in the run to keep them busy like hay or grass clippings to scratch thru.
Good luck!

 

[aart]

Assuming you have plenty of space for that many birds once they are all full grown.

Here's some tips on .....
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.


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.

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