Mixing my flock

[wings9191]

I have 2 sets of birds I need to put together.
My first 2 chickens own the coop and pen, they are 18 weeks.
My second set of 4 have been in a separate cage in my garage, they are 15 or 16 weeks old.
I just got rid of the mean roosters I had over the weekend and its time for these birds to all live in the big coop in the barn.
The coop itself is large, 5ft x 4ft x 3ft.
So room wise they have space.
I have been putting the newer birds in the main coop for a few days now.
I just got off work and threw them in the main coop and of course everyone is all worked up now.
Should I just leave in tonight and hope for the best or should I keep doing this throw them in for awhile each day?
It doesn't really seem to be getting better so i'm thinking it's time they all live together.

 

[donrae]

some folks let integration go on for a long time. Personally, I'm of the "throw them together and let them sort it out and get it over with" camp. I do keep an eye on things but have rarely needed to intervene. Lots of space, and some hiding places for the loser to run and hide behind usually make everything go well. You can also shake things up and distract them by putting new things like logs, stumps, a ladder, etc in the run for them to worry about. They'll be so busy checking out the new object they won't worry near so much about the new birds. Hey, maybe they'll be glad the new birds are there, they'll be cannon fodder for the big, scary object that just invaded the run

 

[RJSorensen]

I took five days to work in my new rooster, and that went fine, but with hens, I agree… just let them sort it out. The younger have the advantage of numbers, so I would suppose in the chaos, it will work out and all will be fine.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[Mrs. K]

Adding more new birds to the home turf crew is a good idea, and they should be about the same size, so that part should go well.

But I don't think that a 5 X 4 X 3 is a large coop, and it might be tight in there when the birds become full grown. Which way do your dimensions go?

Mrs K

 

[donrae]

I didn't even register the space. I agree that's tight for a coop with that many birds. What's your run situation? I wouldn't think that's enough room for loser birds to be able to run away from a more aggressive bird.

 

[wings9191]

It's 5 foot long 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall, that's small?
It's only 5 birds.
Ekkkk my old coop was too small then for sure hehe
But I put them in and everyone is still alive today.
Actually the new chickens slept on the roof of the coop last night.
The picture is before the top fencing around it where up.
Inside the fencing it's 5ft Deep x 7ft wide x 7 feet tall.
Everyone seems to have gotten over themselves.
And tonight everyone is inside.
Thanks for the info

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes. That's small. Especially when they're full grown and there is nasty weather and they don't want to go outside.

 

[wings9191]

I actually have a plan for winter months.
This picture was taken from inside my barn.
So during the winter months they can go into the barn and stay out of the elements.
The pen is also covered so it stays dry.
With the bad winter we had this year they spent almost all winter in the barn.

 

[Mrs. K]

the barn makes a huge difference.

 

[bobbi-j]

the barn makes a huge difference.

x2