Merged two flocks and new coop

[Janisrose]

Hi - I have a flock of 5, 24 weeks old (1 rooster, 4 hens) and a flock of 3 hens 17 weeks old. I had the flock of 5 when they were a week old and they had this crappy coop I bought from tractor supply. I decided to build a better coop which I have done. The flock of 3 I got when they were 7 weeks old, I kept them separated but able to see each other through fencing. Eventually they were all free ranging among each other for several weeks. The little ones would run from the older ones. Now I have finished the new coop and merged them all. it's only been about 4 days and the little ones will go in to roost and the rooster and 4 hens will come into the run and roost on this ladder thing we made. I have to physically pick them up and put them in their coop. Full disclosure I haven't left them in the coop and run all day long together. I've been letting them free range.

So my question is should I keep them penned in for a week together so they know they are one big flock?

How do I get them to all go into the coop onto the nesting bars at night?

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

You really aren't doing anything wrong. Chickens need time to develop new habits. They need time to work out their social relationships (pecking order) and time to learn where they need to roost at night.

Shrinking their world by confining them to run and coop for a week or so will give them the opportunity to focus on becoming a flock and adopting the new coop as home.

Be sure they have adequate space, approximately ten square feet per chicken of run space with high and low perches and clutter to hide behind to reduce conflicts.

 

[aart]

4 days isn't long at all...be patient.
Do you have a separate roost for the youngers?
Dimensions and pics of your coop(inside and out) and run would be most helpful here.

 

[SW31]

When bringing a new flock into an established flock I gave them time. Once they were past the quarantine stage I let then do there own thing. Gradually the two groups started to merge. When a couple of the new flock started to roost in the older flocks hen house I decided it was time to keep their henhouse door closed at night so they had to roost in the other house. It took several months but now definitely operate as one flock.