Merging two flocks

[vtchickraiser]

I have 5 RIR that are just over a year old now. I just got 7 Sex linked chicks who will be ready for the coop soon. Is there any advise on being able to merge the two flocks in the same coop with the least stress or problems?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Let me give you a link to Buff's article. We may not always do things exactly alike but I think her article is full of great information. I think it is well worth your time to read it.

Buff’s Integration
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

Some ideas that might make the integration easier.

House them side by side for several days, where they can see each other but not get at each other.

Provide separate feeding and drinking places for a while. The older chickens will probably keep the younger ones away from the food and water as part of the intimidation process in setting up the pecking order.

Give them as much room as you can. The older chickens will be higher in the pecking order and will almost certainly jealously enforce that position. What that usually means is that the older chiken will intimidate the younger and the younger will run away. If the younger does not have room to run, the older thinks the younger is challenging them for pecking order domninance and will very vigorously enforce their position.

For the first week or so, make sure the pop door is opened early. Don't leave them locked in a coop where the younger ones cannot get away. What I normally see is the younger ones stay up on the roosts and the older get on the floor of the coop, but sometimes an older one will stay up top and go after the younger ones.

Make sure you have plenty of roost space. We all have different circummstances, but I find mine are most aggressive when they are settling down on the roosts. The younger ones need sufficient room to get away from the older ones or they might start roosting in nest boxes or something like that.

Buff recommends waiting until they are 16 weeks old to start. I usually have mine fully integrated by the time they are 12 weeks old, but I start when they are 8 weeks and work at it. I free range mine so they have a lot of space and I am around all day to work on it. Some people have them fully integrated at a much younger age. Differrent things worek for different ones of us.

Good luck! Sometimes this process goes so well that you wonder what all the fuss is about and sometimes chickens die during this process. I really think having sufficient space is a big part of this.

 

[Sorin]

I'd throw in my 2 cents but I think Ridgerunner already covered it great!

 

[juliette2009]

I think Ridgerunner's advice was excellent!

 

[vtchickraiser]

My birds are free ranged as well. One of my fears is that the older birds are going to keep the younger ones from coming back to the coop at night. Do you think that may happen?

 

[bburn]

My DGD bought two EE's that we wanted to add to the mixed flock. I spent a couple of hours sectioning off a corner of the coop where they would have shelter and still be separated from the mob. The next morning I went out and they had flown over my sectioned off place...and it was tall! Nothing to do but let them tough it out then.

All the advice above is good. It really took a long time...over a month before the EE's stopped running like they had been bit when the hens came towards them. They did go in the coop at night but it took a long time before they roosted with the mob. I have a lot of roost space. The one chicken is more timid than the other and she would not roost on the roost. She roosted on a 2x4 above the next boxes....still can't figure out how she did that there sure was not much room. Now....two months later....if I look after they have all gone to bed she is right in the middle of the mob.

I don't advise putting them in until they have some size to them for sure. And places for them to hid in and under to get away from the mob are good also.

 

[hollyester]

I have just merged my flocks! First time for me. It has been a little over two full days for them.

My run is enclosed and connected to the fairly large (for the 9 birds residing in it) coop. I waited until the newbies (Ameraucanas) were pretty substantial in size. Definitely not full grown (15/16 weeks-ish), but not little, either. (Side note, the new flock also contains one little 'bantam mix' who is the bravest so far, as she is frequently seen hopping among the older birds who are MUCH bigger than she.)
Initially (at about 10 weeks), the newbies were in they're own coop and run. Unfortunately, they couldn't really see the others. So I let all the birds free range for periods of time with my supervision. At about 13 weeks, I put the newbies with the older gals at night, but separated them during the day (as they were not eating the same food yet).
Now, I am 'locking them in' the older gals' coop/run 24/7 and not allowing any free ranging until I see a little more bravery from a couple of the others.
They are definitely hanging out with each other inside the coop more than in the run with the ladies. (It is really cute how they like to stick together. I feel like they even kind of watch out for each other, but that's probably just the little chicken story I make up in my head.)
I guess, according to bburn, 'complete immersion' may take a while. I can wait. Especially if I'm rewarded for my patience with gorgeous, delicious eggs!
Thanks everyone!

 

[callycallycally]

I'm going to need to merge two flocks for the first time this year. This is all great advice to start thinking about! Does any of the advice change if the flock you're merging in is MUCH bigger than the existing flock? I currently have 4 young chicks that JUST went out into the coop - 8 weeks old. I will have to merge (if all goes well) 11 new chicks that are just a day old now.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes adding more is better, it spreads out the pecking.

I am an advocate of adding to the flock earlier rather than later. I put my chicks in a safety zone, where as they can get through the barrier, but the bigger birds cannot. This allows the chicks to work on this on their own terms. I stay out of it. I have used a couple of lattice panels, or simply a fencing that is a couple of inches off the floor.

Even a pallet laid across cement blocks low to the ground is pretty good for chicks. I often put feed there for them, even when they are not longer being chased.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I currently have 4 young chicks that JUST went out into the coop - 8 weeks old. I will have to merge (if all goes well) 11 new chicks that are just a day old now.

How big is your coop and run?
Can you set up a 'safe place'?
I like to integrate early:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/