Need help with integration plan- 5 new youngsters, 2 geriatric hens

[My1stChickens]

My littles are nearing the end of their quartantine. They've been in a 12x12 stall for the last three weeks, next week will be a full month. They are energetic little things-- and they actually like to fly.

Their future home-- 11x13 "coop" with about 20' of roosting space. Currently occupied by the two elderly hens. There is a small metal door, that lets them in/out of the adjoining run. The run is about 35'x65' with two small coops as shelters, and the entire run is topped with aviary netting. So both areas are big enough to split.

Last time I did this, I had new chickens who waddled around, they did not fly. I simply divided the coop and ran some temporary fencing to divide off part off the run. I'd let one group out, with access to one side of the run, then move a fence panel to let the other group out into the other area. No one ever thought of flying over the temporary fencing. But these new littles, actually thought about going over the 8' tall walls in their quarantine stall! I had to install netting roof to contain them. This means if I don't want them integrating themselves, I have to put netting over these short little temporary fences which will prohibit me walking behind them to shoo them back into the coop at bedtime.

I thought about doing the whole "see but don't touch" in the coop, then turning them all out together. Maybe add a few more obstacles or hidey places. I don't think my old girls will be awful to newbies. One is very sweet, the other will probably assert herself as #1 on pecking order but she's 9 years old, probably lacks the energy to put up sustained terrorism. I am quite confident any of the babies could outrun her. Two of the newbies are going to be 14 weeks, so they might actually engage in squabble.

I would not want to have them in a tiny area for a long time so that part makes me not crazy about just dividing the coop. They would have maybe 50-60 square feet less than half of what they have in quarantine.

I'm leaning to starting with "see but no touch" in the coop. If it's contentious, then build out something for the run-- if not, then turn them loose and be ready to herd them back into the coop for bedtime? My old girls tend to put themselves to bed WAY before dark. So they could be confined on their side when the littles are herded back in?

Dreading this, because next week I also have oral surgery and won't be feeling my best. But will be happy to have them integrated.

Any suggestions? Am I just worrying too much?

Edited to add one more question. My five new chickens are in two age groups. 2 of them will be 14 weeks. The others are somewhere between 9-12 weeks. The younger three are definitely smaller, but they were all housed together when I bought them. Is there any issue with integrating them as a group?

 

[Themellowyellows]

My littles are nearing the end of their quartantine. They've been in a 12x12 stall for the last three weeks, next week will be a full month. They are energetic little things-- and they actually like to fly.

Their future home-- 11x13 "coop" with about 20' of roosting space. Currently occupied by the two elderly hens. There is a small metal door, that lets them in/out of the adjoining run. The run is about 35'x65' with two small coops as shelters, and the entire run is topped with aviary netting. So both areas are big enough to split.

Last time I did this, I had new chickens who waddled around, they did not fly. I simply divided the coop and ran some temporary fencing to divide off part off the run. I'd let one group out, with access to one side of the run, then move a fence panel to let the other group out into the other area. No one ever thought of flying over the temporary fencing. But these new littles, actually thought about going over the 8' tall walls in their quarantine stall! I had to install netting roof to contain them. This means if I don't want them integrating themselves, I have to put netting over these short little temporary fences which will prohibit me walking behind them to shoo them back into the coop at bedtime.

I thought about doing the whole "see but don't touch" in the coop, then turning them all out together. Maybe add a few more obstacles or hidey places. I don't think my old girls will be awful to newbies. One is very sweet, the other will probably assert herself as #1 on pecking order but she's 9 years old, probably lacks the energy to put up sustained terrorism. I am quite confident any of the babies could outrun her. Two of the newbies are going to be 14 weeks, so they might actually engage in squabble.

I would not want to have them in a tiny area for a long time so that part makes me not crazy about just dividing the coop. They would have maybe 50-60 square feet less than half of what they have in quarantine.

I'm leaning to starting with "see but no touch" in the coop. If it's contentious, then build out something for the run-- if not, then turn them loose and be ready to herd them back into the coop for bedtime? My old girls tend to put themselves to bed WAY before dark. So they could be confined on their side when the littles are herded back in?

Dreading this, because next week I also have oral surgery and won't be feeling my best. But will be happy to have them integrated.

Any suggestions? Am I just worrying too much?

Edited to add one more question. My five new chickens are in two age groups. 2 of them will be 14 weeks. The others are somewhere between 9-12 weeks. The younger three are definitely smaller, but they were all housed together when I bought them. Is there any issue with integrating them as a group?

I would say put them in to roost at night with your hens. They might peck around a bit but will be tired. Your new chicks will be okay. You might want to introduce them at night, take them away in the morning then for a day let them see eachother but not touch, like you said.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd still do see but no touch but with the hens being so old I don't anticipate you'll have too much issue once they're all in the same space, simply because the youngsters will be much quicker and much peppier.

The age range on the youngsters shouldn't be an issue, unless I'm not understanding it correctly (they were all raised together correct? Or are you needing to integrate the chicks to one another first?)

 

[Ridgerunner]

If I read this right, you have 5 juveniles in a 12x12 area in quarantine. They will eventually join 2 adults in a 11x13 coop and a 35x65 run. You should have no concerns at all about having sufficient room.

Considering your surgery I'd build a pen inside the coop so they could "look but don't touch" until you recover from your surgery or at least a week. Longer will not hurt anything. Then one morning when you are ready turn them loose when you can observe and see what happens.

Two of the newbies are going to be 14 weeks, so they might actually engage in squabble.

It is not about size, it is about maturity. I would be surprised if immature pullets like this stood up to mature hens. The only possible issue is if your old hens are so geriatric they are feeble. I really do not expect that.

My five new chickens are in two age groups. 2 of them will be 14 weeks. The others are somewhere between 9-12 weeks. The younger three are definitely smaller, but they were all housed together when I bought them. Is there any issue with integrating them as a group?

I would consider keeping them together as a group as an important thing to do. They are integrated, do not mess that up.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. I think you will be surprised at how well it goes with all or that room.

 

[My1stChickens]

The age range on the youngsters shouldn't be an issue, unless I'm not understanding it correctly (they were all raised together correct? Or are you needing to integrate the chicks to one another first?)

Yes, they were all raised together and have quarantined together. The first few days there were a couple stand offs, but no pecking. I figure they were just reworking pecking order for the smaller subset of what had been a group of 25-30.

thank you so much

 

[My1stChickens]

If I read this right, you have 5 juveniles in a 12x12 area in quarantine. They will eventually join 2 adults in a 11x13 coop and a 35x65 run. You should have no concerns at all about having sufficient room.

Considering your surgery I'd build a pen inside the coop so they could "look but don't touch" until you recover from your surgery or at least a week. Longer will not hurt anything. Then one morning when you are ready turn them loose when you can observe and see what happens.


It is not about size, it is about maturity. I would be surprised if immature pullets like this stood up to mature hens. The only possible issue is if your old hens are so geriatric they are feeble. I really do not expect that.


I would consider keeping them together as a group as an important thing to do. They are integrated, do not mess that up.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. I think you will be surprised at how well it goes with all or that room.

The old girls are not feeble-- and it will be their "home turf" so I don't expect anything awful from them. One is still a bit sassy, the other is a sweet gentle soul. I think keeping the new 5 in a group makes sense. And I'm grateful that I have so much room! 140ish square foot coop, and more than 2000 square feet in the run. The most I've ever had is 12 so they have never been crowded. One of these pullets has started to crow, but I was already planning to get another group of pullets once these are integrated. I got these 5 because the opportunity popped up from a neighbor who specializes in blue egg layers. And I have a weakness for pretty eggs. One is an Olive Egger and one could lay blue or brown based on her genetics but that still leaves 2 that should lay blue for sure.