Merging new ones into flock

[DJWick]

I'll try to keep it short so it's not TL;DR. I'm trying to merge five 12-week-old chicks into an existing flock of three old hens and five younger hens. We raised the five younger hens from eggs, and had no problem integrating them. The five new chicks are pullets from Cackle Hatchery.

The problem is that the five chicks and the five younger hens have exact opposite personalities. The first batch of chick/pullets, the younger hens, were assertive, and insisted on being accepted by the old hens. They'd dive right into the older hens' territory, get chased and pecked, and come back for more until the old hens finally gave up. They are fully integrated now.

This new batch of chicks, Buff Orpingtons, are not the least bit assertive. They are very sweet and gentle. As soon as I remove the divider between them and the rest of the flock in the chicken run they jump up into their safe spot and very rarely try to come down. The minute one does come down, one of the hens chases her and she immediately jumps back up to her safe spot. This can go on for a whole day until I finally give up and put up the divider so the chicks can get food and water without being harassed.

I've got several ideas about what to do about this personality problem, but none of them seem to have a clear, successful end in sight. If anyone is interested in helping me tackle this problem I can post further information about my chicken setup, and what I have tried so far. Like I said, these are sweet girls, not the least assertive or aggressive, and in hindsight really don't fit in with the others. But I like them a lot, and want to try to make it work. BTW, no rooster.

I'm all ears, and appreciate any suggestions.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of your set up, with measurements if possible? How long have you had the new Buff Orps in the divided area?

 

[Debbie292d]

We just integrated eight 5-month old silkies to the coop from their growout pen on the complete other side of the yard, so around 2 acres away.

We put them in the coop Thursday night, on the lower "roosts." I put food/water outside of the coop, knowing they wouldn't have gotten any before we let them out in the morning. They all free range, but these eight stick pretty close to the coop.

Friday night, five of the eight went back to the coop. The others were close. Saturday night, they all went in. Tonight, seven of eight went in. Every morning, they've got food/water outside.

I'll do this for a couple of weeks until I know they are able to get food/water inside the coop.