NEED HELP INTEGRATING!!

[MsBehaven]

I have 8 mixed breed browns that are a year old and I recently got 8 red sex link. They have had a barrier between them for one week. I tried to integrate them but it didn't go to well The older ones were ganging up on the younger ones. Cornering them and then attacking them. Sometimes it was 4 on 1. I put the barrier back even though in was only down for an afternoon. The younger ones huddled in one corner, didn't eat or drink. I don't know what to do next. Someone told me to cull the old ones and start with just the young ones. I can't see that as an option to this. I don't want to put them together then find dead chickens the next day. Please help me. I love all my girls and I can't see them hurt.

 

[bobbi-j]

How old are the younger birds? Are they close in size to the older ones? It may be helpful to put some hiding places up in your run. A piece of plywood or pallet leaned against the wall (but leaving both ends open to avoid one getting trapped), put a pallet on cement blocks for a younger one to hide under. Put out extra feeders and waterers. How big is your run? Do the younger ones have room to get away? Do you free range? It might help if you can, just to give everyone their space. BYC member Aart has some notes that they have taken on integration, it might be helpful for you to read them.

 

[Flybybirds]

I have a questions along the lines of Msbehaven's. One of my chocolate orpington hens hatched out three babies in the coop. The coop is 10 foot wide and 18 foot long with an inner roosting 10 x 4 that in winter we lock them in. They have a 200' pen outside that is surrounded by a 48* premiere electric fence to keep them safe during the day. The coop they go into with door closed is VERY safe. My point. We thought that the babies would not fair well because of the electric fence so in a few days we took them inside my aviary building into a GQF heated brooder with the hen. Also the nights were in the 40's this year and that is rather cold for Florida where they were raised. Now they are getting larger and still with the mother. We have put a pen inside the electric enclosure so they could at least see the other hens and rooster. (At night they go back into the GQF) When can I integrate the hen and babies into the flock? My gal is going to take pictures of the babies with the hen so I could send them to you to show the size.