Merging 2 flocks to 1 coop

[jslater14]

Depending on how much space is in there and what you can fit through the door, the cage doesn't need to be large but it does need to have enough space at the chicks can move around a bit. For 6 chicks maybe 6 sq ft (so like 2'x3').

They don't need a perch, they can sleep on the ground without issue (I don't find adding a perch helps really with getting them to roost later).

For how long:

Me again so first attempt was basically a disaster. I got a cage that is 30x19x21 (is that big enough?). I put it in the coop earlier and then tried adding the little girls after the big girls got on the roost. The little girls were freaking out (is this normal?) jumping up/not really settling. And then when I was cleaning out/filling up the water, they pushed the door open (I guess I didn’t lock it all the way) and were roaming the coop. A few tried to roost and our bully Rhode Island Red went after them. Surprisingly the other 2 girls didn’t care about them. Another big girl actually went after the bully red. It was just a disaster. So I just moved the little girls back to their roost in the shed. The big girls also seems stressed when I went back to check on them. Or possibly hot.

Am I doing this right? I preface this as I’m the crazy chicken lady who thinks her chickens are pets, but this seems hard integrating them. I don’t want to stress any of them out

 

[rosemarythyme]

Me again so first attempt was basically a disaster. I got a cage that is 30x19x21 (is that big enough?). I put it in the coop earlier and then tried adding the little girls after the big girls got on the roost. The little girls were freaking out (is this normal?) jumping up/not really settling. And then when I was cleaning out/filling up the water, they pushed the door open (I guess I didn’t lock it all the way) and were roaming the coop. A few tried to roost and our bully Rhode Island Red went after them.

Cage should be big enough for this phase. Sounds like you have a mini roost in there with them, which is fine if they want to use it or not. Yes they'll panic especially since this is their first time being stuck in there like that. I push them in (and either have someone hold the door shut while you add them, or relatch each time, because yes they will squirt out!) and then let them scream and walk away. Sometimes you just have to rip off the bandage. They'll get over it.

 

[Lynnski]

Me again so first attempt was basically a disaster. I got a cage that is 30x19x21 (is that big enough?). I put it in the coop earlier and then tried adding the little girls after the big girls got on the roost. The little girls were freaking out (is this normal?) jumping up/not really settling. And then when I was cleaning out/filling up the water, they pushed the door open (I guess I didn’t lock it all the way) and were roaming the coop. A few tried to roost and our bully Rhode Island Red went after them. Surprisingly the other 2 girls didn’t care about them. Another big girl actually went after the bully red. It was just a disaster. So I just moved the little girls back to their roost in the shed. The big girls also seems stressed when I went back to check on them. Or possibly hot.

Am I doing this right? I preface this as I’m the crazy chicken lady who thinks her chickens are pets, but this seems hard integrating them. I don’t want to stress any of them out

I had the same issues you do.....a small space that is difficult to segregate the littles from the 2 olders. I did what you did with one change...Once they were all happy in my fenced yard free ranging and keeping distance (about 4 days), I snuck the littles in the coop in the dark, popped them on the roost and they all woke up together.

Like you, the littles screamed like they were dying when the big girls chased them out in the morning, but my big girls werent violent so i knew it was just bullying to establish the order.

For 1-2 weeks the 6 stayed in their fenced yard while the biggies were closed in the run, and i would swap them out mid day. I would put the littles in the run so at bedtime, i could pop them in the door to roost first. (side note...Thats did NOT work, so i swapped it where the big girls went in to roost first. Much better!) The littles had a few minutes to play everywhere then head up. They learned to get in by themselves real quick once they knew the big girls were roosting. They also learned to stay roosted till the big girls had gone out for breakfast!

Finally, I opened the run door and let them all mingle supervised, making sure the littles had hiding places to go to as they screamed their heads off! I feel like as long as you know your big girls wont attack and you can supervise, try it! Full disclosure, i have a chick cam in the coop to make sure there was no violence! Good luck, you will get there for sure!

 

[Virginiachickens]

I’m chiming in here. This is what we’re doing too now. 8 pullets that have been in a temporary coop for the past two months, we’re now attempting to get them to sleep in the coop we just built that houses our original flock of 4 adults, (3 hens 1 rooster). We put the littles in last night and this morning I got up at dawn before the door opened to hear the rooster bullying them. I immediately opened the door. Should I just keep waking up early to do this? Maybe put a temporary divider in there? The pullets found the tree in our yard very nice for sleeping so I don’t want to let them keep doing that. I also want to make sure everyone is safe. I can’t do the trick of locking them in there for 2 days as it’s hot as hell and we also have a broody silkie in the coop during the day in her nesting box. Not sure this is clear but any advice welcome.

 

[Lynnski]

Hi @Virginiachickens ... I have never had a rooster so i dont know what rooster bullying looks like. One of the things i had to get used to with this transition was learning the difference between bullying and attacking. Although the littles will scream like they are dying, they are really just being chased. If there is a place for them to run to and/or hide, there was never any attacking.

I also have an automatic door which opens at the first sign of light. We found that the older hens wanted to go out first and claim their place, and the littles learned to come out later.

Letting them mingle and learn their places during the day is important, i feel like the more i intervene, the longer it takes. And like i said, as long as there is no attacking, its just chicken school.

There were 2 hens that started to not go in at night, but i popped them in when it was dark and that only lasted 2 days.

Things are calm most of the time. The littles have given the hens a wide berth of respect and they can now eat together. I have been helping them a little. I will hold a corn cob in each hand so that the little can devour one and the hens the other.

Id love to hear how things are going, keep us posted

 

[Virginiachickens]

Thank you so much! During the day they are all free-ranging together. There are two distinct squads, they stick to their own groups but do not mess with each other. I’m very comfortable with them all outside during the day, it’s just this new nighttime integration now. We’re ready to consolidate the squads and break down our temporary coop that they don’t even like anymore anyway, they’ve been roosting in the tree now!
This morning I just heard lots of squabbling and making some pecking. I just dont want anyone to draw blood.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I immediately opened the door. Should I just keep waking up early to do this?

If you have an auto door set it to open at sunrise. If you don't, and you have a predator proof (or predator proof enough) run, prop open the pop door with a brick or something so the littles can get out if needed. I usually prop open the door for about a week "just in case" so they can adjust to being in the coop with the older birds.

 

[Peaky]

They have been in the run together, but separated by a cage. So they haven’t been in the run without separation. And I wouldn’t say without incident, haha. Nothing crazy but the other girls, especially our mean one, has gone after them and pecked them.

Im having the same problem. my 3 older hens terrorize my younger chickens. im afraid to put them in a coop together. they all run free during the day and are fine. Do u think they will eventually get along? the younger group has a rooster so im hoping when he gets old enough he will stick up for himself and his 2 hens