Nervous about mixed flocks

[c4wilson]

I'm a little concerned my older flock is scaring the heck out of my younger one, but no blood has been shed yet. I sought advice from this forum about new coop construction a few months ago and yesterday was the final joining of coops.

Context:
I've had a movable coop and run for 2 years now, with the expansion of my family, we decided to expand our chickens as well and went from 3-7. From about week 12-18 the new chickens were in the new addition of my coop and run. This was not connected, but next too the old coop and run.

Yesterday we hit 19 weeks, and decided it was time to join them. I joined the old run to the new coop and run combo and got rid of the old coop portion. The new coop is about 3x the size of the old one, and the new (joined) run is not quite double, but still more then the recommended and we will move it a few times a week.

I left all the doors open all day yesterday, but at night the new girls did not return to the coop, they roosted around the yard. 1 old girl was in the coop, 1 below, 1 on top. I collected them and placed them inside the run. The eventually all (except one old girl) went inside the coop.

This morning the new girls are hiding as far as possible from the older ones.

Bottom line questions:
1) Should I let them roam the yard the next couple days? ( I live in a town, so them roosting on the fence means it is easy for them to get in neighbors yards not to mention predators such as foxes) So this makes me nervous when I'm not home.

2) How much picking on each other is too much? When do I need to be ready to give in and separate them longer?

3) How quickly will the new girls learn from the old ones? The feeding and watering is different then what they are used too so I may provide both styles for the time being.

Thanks once again for all the help this forum gives!

 

[thudson]

I'm a little concerned my older flock is scaring the heck out of my younger one, but no blood has been shed yet. I sought advice from this forum about new coop construction a few months ago and yesterday was the final joining of coops.

Context:
I've had a movable coop and run for 2 years now, with the expansion of my family, we decided to expand our chickens as well and went from 3-7. From about week 12-18 the new chickens were in the new addition of my coop and run. This was not connected, but next too the old coop and run.

Yesterday we hit 19 weeks, and decided it was time to join them. I joined the old run to the new coop and run combo and got rid of the old coop portion. The new coop is about 3x the size of the old one, and the new (joined) run is not quite double, but still more then the recommended and we will move it a few times a week.

I left all the doors open all day yesterday, but at night the new girls did not return to the coop, they roosted around the yard. 1 old girl was in the coop, 1 below, 1 on top. I collected them and placed them inside the run. The eventually all (except one old girl) went inside the coop.

This morning the new girls are hiding as far as possible from the older ones.

Bottom line questions:
1) Should I let them roam the yard the next couple days? ( I live in a town, so them roosting on the fence means it is easy for them to get in neighbors yards not to mention predators such as foxes) So this makes me nervous when I'm not home.

2) How much picking on each other is too much? When do I need to be ready to give in and separate them longer?

3) How quickly will the new girls learn from the old ones? The feeding and watering is different then what they are used too so I may provide both styles for the time being.

Thanks once again for all the help this forum gives!

1. I would do what is comfortable for you. But I would do what you did last night. Pick them up in the evening time and put them in the area of the coop so they will go inside on there own. You should have to do this only a few times and they will get the idea.
2. They have to set the pecking order, all flocks do this and it gets rough for a few days. But it will work all out. You only should step in and get involved if they are being pecked and pushed and pinned to the ground and being pecked relentlessly, that is bullying. Also of course step in if blood is drawn. This could lead to more getting involved and lead to more troubles. But other than those two things let them be. Believe me it's easier said than done sometimes. Sometimes I jump to help all too often and they could've handled it themselves.
3. If its feasible keep all the food and water stations at what they are used to fora while. This will help with things discussed in number 2. After a few days or weeks they will be using all the stations. Then you can decide on which type you want.
These are just a few things I would do and I hope this helps in some part or way! Good Luck let us know how it goes!

 

[c4wilson]

Thank you so much for the response. It is definitely hard to stand back and watch.

I'll add all the feeding stations back in if they haven't picked up the waterer and feeder this evening.

Its chaos watching right now. But I don't think any blood has been drawn.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I assume they are all female and the younger ones are not laying yet. What you are describing sounds pretty normal with my flock. Until my pullets start to lay they are afraid of the adults with good reason. The more mature hens rank higher in the pecking order and will sometimes peck the immature pullets if the pullets invade their personal space. Some mature hens will go out of their way to bully the immature pullets but it doesn't sound like you are seeing that. Note that I am talking about maturity, not age or size.

My pullets do not join the adults on the roosts at night until about the time they start to lay. It may be a few days before or a few weeks after they start laying, but they are not mature enough to force their way into the pecking order until that point. Until they are mature enough the pullets tend to sleep somewhere away from the adults. With mine that's normally in the coop though I've had a few leave the coop even if raised by a broody hen in the coop. That might be somewhere on the floor or perching on something else. Often it can be in the nests. I integrate younger birds all the time. This happens so often I put a juvenile roost lower than the main roosts, higher than the nests, and separated horizontally from the main roosts to give them a place to go that is not my bests.

I'm speaking in general. No matter what anybody says on here someone else can come up with an exception. That's what you get when you are dealing with living animals. I've seen exceptions to a lot of the stuff I say on here, but I try to talk about "normal" behaviors.

My situation is a little different than yours in that I raise my chicks in a brooder in the coop so they grow up with the flock. Or I let broody hens raise their chicks with the flock. The broody hens take care of all this for me, I don't even have to think about it. Sometimes I put some of the brooder raised chicks in a grow-out coop, these usually mingle with the main flock during the day from 8 weeks of age on but continue to sleep in the grow-out coop until later (often 12 weeks of age) before I move them into the main coop. Sometimes I just open the brooder door at five weeks and let them mingle with the flock from then on. They generally sleep on the floor until they move to the juvenile roost. But no matter how they are raised or what age or level of maturity they are I let them manage things like moving to the main roost themselves. They will on their own when they are ready.

So what do you do in your situation. First accept that they will want to stay separate until they mature, That is normal, it's not a crisis. As long as they are not getting beat up to the point blood is drawn or being consistently chased, you are doing great. I'd have separate feeding and watering stations so they can all eat without having to confront the more mature. At night I'd continue putting them in the coop until they start going in on their own. That could be one time or it could be weeks. Be there pretty early in the mornings to open the pop door until you are confident they are not going to get beat up. With mine that is normally only once or twice but I don't know how your coop is set up. Once they are settled see where they are sleeping in case you need to do something about then sleeping in the nests.

I don't see any need to micromanage their relationships. As long as they are not being injured patience is your friend. They will work it out on their schedule.

 

[thudson]

Thank you so much for the response. It is definitely hard to stand back and watch.

I'll add all the feeding stations back in if they haven't picked up the waterer and feeder this evening.

Its chaos watching right now. But I don't think any blood has been drawn.

At times it seems hard to watch, but it is how your flock will integrate. It will all calm down soon and you will have a peaceful, loving flock again. Patience and time are your friend. Sometimes it's just hard, but they Will work it all out.

 

[c4wilson]

Thank you both!

Things seem calmer, they all go into the coop at night (except the head chicken but I think I made the door a little too small for her comfort... I can fix that)

During they day only the older chickens come down into the run until I open all the doors and they graze the yard. But it sounds like y’all are dead on. No blood yet, but definitely staying separate. I think the older chickens are even guarding the door from the coop to the run...

I intervened a little today just to make sure the younger girls are getting food and water by brining it to where they were in the yard and keeping the others away for a little while (10~20 minutes or so), they weee looking a little dehydrated.

Thank you both for the encouragement, I’ll do my best to let it be natural but it has already gotten worlds better.

 

[thudson]

Thank you both!

Things seem calmer, they all go into the coop at night (except the head chicken but I think I made the door a little too small for her comfort... I can fix that)

During they day only the older chickens come down into the run until I open all the doors and they graze the yard. But it sounds like y’all are dead on. No blood yet, but definitely staying separate. I think the older chickens are even guarding the door from the coop to the run...

I intervened a little today just to make sure the younger girls are getting food and water by brining it to where they were in the yard and keeping the others away for a little while (10~20 minutes or so), they weee looking a little dehydrated.

Thank you both for the encouragement, I’ll do my best to let it be natural but it has already gotten worlds better.

I am glad and privileged to have been of some help. Just keep up the good work and know we are here if you need anything further!

 

[c4wilson]

I may need to start a new post since this is a little different, but things don't seem to be improving.

It has been a month now, and the younger chickens will not leave the coop unless the older ones are out of the run. If they do get hungry enough, they go downstairs and get tackled by the runt of the 3 older ones and pecked by all 3 but mostly the runt (still no blood but she definitely gets on top of them and pecks...).

The younger ones seem to wait for me to get home and let them all free range (which I don't do every day). Only then do the younger ones all go downstairs and eat/drink and then explore the yard.

I tried for a few days to close up the coop and put them all downstairs. This actually works fine (the 3 older chickens cannot challenge the 4 younger ones that well) and the run is pretty big, so they all just kinda stay with their groups. But they have learned how to move the piece of wood i was using to close it up. The next step ( I guess) would be to screw the wood place but then no one can lay eggs in the coop.

One of the three younger ones is laying eggs now. Also, at night, they all sleep together just fine (no pecking).

My wife and I are getting concerned, no blood but it is really hard to watch.

Again, I really appreciate all the help.

 

[bobbi-j]

Do you have room in your run for hiding places (pallets or plywood leaned against the run fence for them to get behind - but open on both ends so a pullet can't get trapped, pallets on cement blocks for them to get under, things like that), separate water and feeding stations? Younger chickens and older ones are often two sub-flocks until they start laying, or until they're cooped up together in the winter if they live where it gets cold and snowy. Keep doing what you're doing. They'll be fine.

 

[c4wilson]

That's a great point, I'll add some things to hide in. Thank you for the quick feedback.