Merging my new chickens...am I doing it right?

[Merax]

I have 3x ISA Brown mature hens and a few weeks back bought 4x point of lay White Leghorns. I housed the Leghorns in a secondary coop, located around 25 meters (around 80 ft) from the original. I have an acre that I let the chickens free range on, so it's quite spacious. Original hens checked out the new ones and eventually I let the new ones out. It's been absolutely fine so far. The brown hen at the bottom of the pecking order will occasionally chase one of the new ones if they get too close, but the other two are pretty chilled about it unless a new chicken tries to steal their food. I've attached a pic of them all eating in the same area without any trouble.

Now, because the Leghorns are still young, they keep a bit of distance (around 3 feet) from the older birds and get a bit nervous if anything causes that space to shrink. The two flocks do mingle, but then separate. Will there come a time when the new chickens will start following the old ones around by themselves? Or do I have to integrate them into the same coop first? (I was hoping they'd integrate and follow the existing flock home). I'm not going to rush the process, they've been mingling in the yard for about a week and a half now....I just want to know if they will start acting as one flock, or if I have to put them into the same coop first.

 

[Nupe]

I think you're going to have to force the issue and put them together. The only way I'd see them following the main flock home is enticement from a roo which you don't have. Once they're all laying, I'd put them together. Just watch them for a bit. Pecking is normal. Holding down and relentlessly pecking until blood is drawn is not and you'd need to intervene.

 

[aart]

Usually younger birds will stay separate until they being to lay, then work their way into the pecking order, but having separate coop far away may change that.

Do you plan on getting them into the same coop?
If so, how?
Any way to move the coops closer together?
Describe each coop size-wise in feet by feet.....and are there nests in both?

The brown hen at the bottom of the pecking order will occasionally chase one of the new ones if they get too close,

Low bird is usually the one who is most aggressive to new birds, whether its because they are worried about their status in the order, or just revel in having a lower bird to pick on,
<shrugs> I dunno.

they keep a bit of distance (around 3 feet) from the older birds and get a bit nervous if anything causes that space to shrink.

Important observation. This is why adequate space is so important when integrating. There will be much less 'battling' if this space is available.

 

[Merax]

Usually younger birds will stay separate until they being to lay, then work their way into the pecking order, but having separate coop far away may change that.

Do you plan on getting them into the same coop?
If so, how?
Any way to move the coops closer together?
Describe each coop size-wise in feet by feet.....and are there nests in both?

Low bird is usually the one who is most aggressive to new birds, whether its because they are worried about their status in the order, or just revel in having a lower bird to pick on,
<shrugs> I dunno.

Important observation. This is why adequate space is so important when integrating. There will be much less 'battling' if this space is available.

Not sure how I plan to get them into the same coop. I *can* relocate their existing coop with some effort (it was only meant to be temporary so it is kinda sorta mobile. I think that might be the best idea.

Primary coop (bear in mind I'm converting metric to imperial):
Coop space - 32.27sqft Run space - 86.11 sqft
Temp coop
Coop space - 48sqft Run space 64 sqft.

No nests in temp coop, but I can easily build some in there...it wouldn't be hard to do.

I was using 4sqft indoor / 10sqft outdoor standards when I built both. Plus chickens free roam pretty much all day every day.

Maybe shifting their original coop and then locking them in it for a few days might work?

 

[Mrs. K]

When their combs get bright red, and they begin squatting for you, they are close to laying. Let the established birds out, and lock the new birds into that coop for a day or two. This will allow them to explore the nests. Put your established flock in the other set up for a day or two, then let them all out together, and lock up the temporary coop. That night they will all go to the main coop.

I don't see any problems even doing that right now, if they can act like that in your picture.