Moving around chickens within 2 flocks

[allebasi4]

Hi there,
This is my first time trying to move around & join groups of chickens. I know theres endless resources on integrating them but I have a little bit of a different situation and no real life chicken friends to ask their opinion.
So... I have 2 l.f. pullets (5 months old) that live with my 2 seramas of the same age. I have another group of 2 (9 month old) pullets and one rooster, that live directly next to them (they can see each other through the hardware cloth). My intention was to move the 2 large 5 month olds in with the older 3. We’ve successfully integrated with them enough that they free range together with no problems, but if they do get scared they’re able to run away. I tried to add the two 5 month olds into the older groups coop/run but it didn’t exactly work out. My serama rooster sees the two as “his” so he was screaming his head off trying to get to them and they were freaking out trying to get through the hardware cloth (cutting up their combs) all the while being chased by my “bully” hen. My serama rooster actually chases off the bully girl so I wish I could just have them in the run all together but I just can’t. Anyway, come bedtime they were still in the run, trying to get through to the other side while everyone else was roosted inside. I caved and let them roost back in their old coop. Technically the two 5 month old pullets could stay with the seramas, since they were raised together but I have 2 (9 week old) bantams that are going to move in with my seramas. I’ve successfully integrated the 4 bantams but the 5 month old pullets are super aggressive toward them.
So I guess the advice I’m looking for is... should I try to put the 5 month olds back in the coop/run with the older bunch and just let them “cry it out”? Should I just put them on the roost at night? Should I try to cover the hardware cloth so they can’t see their old coop?
I wish I could be tougher about the situation but I wasn’t expecting this to be so difficult and I hate to see my pets stressed out.
I hope this makes sense. Thanks for reading

update: they actually seem perfectly comfortable in the run when the “bully” hen isn’t in there.. would it be a good idea to keep the bully in a dog crate in the run for a few hours?

 

[allebasi4]

Well, it seems like I jinxed myself
Each group seems to be getting along perfectly fine. Some feather grabbing here and there but nothing like it was before, so they don’t seem to be rubbing themselves raw trying to get in the other run. I’m anticipating having to put the two 5 month olds on the roost with the big kids tonight, as I don’t even think they’ve ventured in the coop yet. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly tonight!

 

[ChicKittyHouse]

I just saw your post and was wondering how things turned out. Some people can be really firm about chicken behavior, but I worry about if they are happy or scared. I'm getting ready to shift some around for breeding purposes and I have no idea how that will go! My rooster won't be with his favorites for a little while.

 

[allebasi4]

I just saw your post and was wondering how things turned out. Some people can be really firm about chicken behavior, but I worry about if they are happy or scared. I'm getting ready to shift some around for breeding purposes and I have no idea how that will go! My rooster won't be with his favorites for a little while.

I totally get that, I worry about how they’re feeling too! At first it was really stressful to watch, but just know that though it may look bad, you probably feel worse about it haha. It took about a full week for things to truly settle down, but after that they’re perfectly fine apart from some occasional chasing (by my bully girl). I think if I didn’t have the hen with such a strong personality things would have been easier. I find that the roosters really don’t care as much about changes as the ladies... they can be brutal. The younger girls were not able to roost with the older 3 for a couple weeks, but I put up another bar and they’re all sleeping together fine. i say take a deep breath and go for it.. don’t worry if there’s some bullying going on and maybe a little blood, but if they really look like they’re hurting each other take them out and try again the next day. Chickens seem to adapt way better to change than we (I) seem to think

 

[aart]

but after that they’re perfectly fine apart from some occasional chasing

There will always be some chasing, I see it daily in a long integrated flock.
It's part of the pecking order process, why lots of space is so important.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I find this an interesting post. You make some good points.

At first it was really stressful to watch, but just know that though it may look bad, you probably feel worse about it

I find some of the problems mentioned on the forum to be a matter of perspective. What I see as normal chicken interaction others see as abuse and brutality. Chicken society is set up for the benefit of the flock, not specifically one individual. Chickens can be bullies. Once chickens get their issues worked out you usually get a peaceful flock, provided they have stability and enough room, but it can be pretty brutal getting to that point.

I think if I didn’t have the hen with such a strong personality things would have been easier. I find that the roosters really don’t care as much about changes as the ladies... they can be brutal.

The boys seem to always get the blame but I feel that the girls have a strong influence on flock dynamics. I have removed girls instead of boys when I thought it was best for the peace of the flock.

don’t worry if there’s some bullying going on and maybe a little blood, but if they really look like they’re hurting each other take them out and try again the next day.

There is judgment involved with this. I try to let them work it out as much as I can but it can be dangerous, chickens can get seriously injured or die. It's not always an easy decision. Even with experience you can sometimes be wrong.

Chickens seem to adapt way better to change than we (I) seem to think

I agree, they do. But sometimes it takes a while. Patience can be a good thing. Being consistent can help with this. Using appropriate techniques can really help, like providing your juveniles that roost so they can avoid the adults. Glad you had enough room in your coop to do that. (I have to get my digs in on room, I think room is very important in how they behave.)

I get it that they are pets to many people, but you need to potty train a puppy if you are going to have a house dog, at least in this house. Sometimes that requires you to be stern.

 

[allebasi4]

I find this an interesting post. You make some good points.


I find some of the problems mentioned on the forum to be a matter of perspective. What I see as normal chicken interaction others see as abuse and brutality. Chicken society is set up for the benefit of the flock, not specifically one individual. Chickens can be bullies. Once chickens get their issues worked out you usually get a peaceful flock, provided they have stability and enough room, but it can be pretty brutal getting to that point.


The boys seem to always get the blame but I feel that the girls have a strong influence on flock dynamics. I have removed girls instead of boys when I thought it was best for the peace of the flock.


There is judgment involved with this. I try to let them work it out as much as I can but it can be dangerous, chickens can get seriously injured or die. It's not always an easy decision. Even with experience you can sometimes be wrong.


I agree, they do. But sometimes it takes a while. Patience can be a good thing. Being consistent can help with this. Using appropriate techniques can really help, like providing your juveniles that roost so they can avoid the adults. Glad you had enough room in your coop to do that. (I have to get my digs in on room, I think room is very important in how they behave.)

I get it that they are pets to many people, but you need to potty train a puppy if you are going to have a house dog, at least in this house. Sometimes that requires you to be stern.

Of course, I like your points as well
I think it all boils down to what you are comfortable with letting your chickens go through and the pros and cons of each potential outcome. I sat down there (quietly) for a long time and watched them and checked on them multiple times just to make sure things weren’t getting out of hand, and luckily it worked out for me but I know it doesn’t work for a lot of people. I was also fortunate enough to have them live next to each other and free range together for months before hand, so if I wasn’t able to do that it could have gone very differently. I could have kept them in their old space forever, but I wanted all my larger birds together.. so once I figured they weren’t going to seriously hurt or kill each other, I sort of let them “cry it out”, and now they spend time with each other even when they don’t have to!