merging flocks

[astone]

Hello All
I have 3 different hatches I've done this year. My first ones were born on Mothers Day, the second on fathers day and the third (I only have 2 chicks from it) which was hatched about 5 weeks ago. I need everyone to learn to get along so when I get their Taj Mah Hall of Clucks built before this winter they can all get in there and be warm and happy. It's like trying to get 3 different herds of teenage girls together. The chickens are mainly Polish and everyone wants to pull hair. I know everyone needs to establish pecking order but any tips on how to get this to go smoother? I've kept them around each other they can see each other but when I let them co mingle the big ones will peck at littler ones and there's 4 mothers day Frobabies. 10 from fathers day. Please help me help them to get along before ""the cold times"" as my son calls winter..lol

 

[thecatumbrella]

Having Polish in a mixed flock is tough. If they're not raised together (or even if they are), the other chickens can't help themselves to a mouthful of those beautiful pompoms. How much space does everyone have to co-mingle? The minimums you'll see for space requirements are true minimums that mostly apply to docile, bonded groups. That's clearly not your situation, so you have to go big or go home.

I'd keep going with see-no-touch and supervised visits. But if you find yourself pressed up against the cold of winter, you'll have to consider either rehoming specific birds or creating a separate enclosure.

Last tip: when you're doing see-no-touch, you have to force proximity. Get the feeders right up against the cage wall. Spread treats along it to encourage group foraging. You want the groups to be safely in each other's personal space as much as possible.

 

[astone]

Well everyone was able to forge openly until we had a bobcat and black bear come in. Wiped out my laying hens and now I'm planning on even adding sand bags around the outside. I have plenty of room I just don't know what exactly I need. I have ended up with an incubator of 17 eggs that are a week in. (Husband's idea not mine) but it's just when everyone I guess has to be together like humas theirs always maybe a little pecking...lol I've been sliding the feeders closer together each day. Now they pretty much have a piece of wire and and are blocked by a 4 inch piece of siding. Once that is gone it will be just the wire. My americauna (Buddy Bird) she has taken to the merge okay but she also thinks you should hold and pet her like a cat.