New chicken introduction to older ones

[HotSauce1271]

I got these little guys about a month ago. I've kept them in a separate coop right next to my older chickens thinking they could see them and get used to the new guys. I put them together after about month and I didnt go well. The older chickens pecked them and got very territorial. My question is should I wait until the chics get bigger (they are 10 weeks)? Any suggestions on bringing the flock together would be great. My old birds are Leghorns, younger silkies as you can see. Thank you

 

[MountainWoman73]

They need a hiding spot where the larger birds can't get to them. I use a bottomless cage that is 3 inches off the floor inside the coop. My chicks run in and out but the big ones can't get in.

 

[HotSauce1271]

They need a hiding spot where the larger birds can't get to them. I use a bottomless cage that is 3 inches off the floor inside the coop. My chicks run in and out but the big ones can't get in.

Pretty good idea...unfortunately I dont have the room to add underneath my coops. I did move them side by side though.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Cool!

 

[Mrs. K]

Flip them, put the old where the new are and vice versa. This allows the new to explore the main coop without being terrorized. And it also lets the old see the new in their territory, which seems to help. If you can, keep them like that for a couple of days, then just before dark, let the old into the main set up. There may be some pecking, but it should settle quickly. Sometimes you have a single old hen or two, that are just wicked, if so, separate her/them for a bit longer.

You do need hideouts, roosts, mini walls in the run. Add multiple feeders and waters. Go into your run, can a chicken see every other chicken in that run, regardless where they are? A chicken out of sight is out of mind. Just a small piece of plywood, a cardboard box, a tote, an old ladder, a broken handle can quickly make hideouts and or roosts. Makes it look cluttered, but much more interesting to chickens.

Mrs K

 

[HotSauce1271]

Flip them, put the old where the new are and vice versa. This allows the new to explore the main coop without being terrorized. And it also lets the old see the new in their territory, which seems to help. If you can, keep them like that for a couple of days, then just before dark, let the old into the main set up. There may be some pecking, but it should settle quickly. Sometimes you have a single old hen or two, that are just wicked, if so, separate her/them for a bit longer.

You do need hideouts, roosts, mini walls in the run. Add multiple feeders and waters. Go into your run, can a chicken see every other chicken in that run, regardless where they are? A chicken out of sight is out of mind. Just a small piece of plywood, a cardboard box, a tote, an old ladder, a broken handle can quickly make hideouts and or roosts. Makes it look cluttered, but much more interesting to chickens.

Mrs K

Definitely going to try that. I did cross my mind to do a coop swap. Only reason I haven't is because my older hens coop is set up with higher perches, and my new one are set up with lower perches. The reason it is that way is because my Leghorns have some flight, and Silkies can only jump pretty much due to their feathers. I could put some 4x4 pieces in the older hens coop though. I am going to give your recommendation a try.

 

[aart]

A swap is a good idea.
How big is your main coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, would help garner viable suggestions.


...and here's some....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[HotSauce1271]

A swap is a good idea.
How big is your main coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, would help garner viable suggestions.


...and here's some....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Main coop is 20×20...I just have a 8×8 coop inside it for laying and perching as my Leghorns free range. The chic coup is 15x15 fenced in with a runner built on front. My room is limited for now. I will be moving onto a 67 acre farm in around 5 months. It has a coop included that is huge with a chic side built onto it with a small space to go in and out. When I get off work I will send pics of current coops and the one we will have this year. I plan to build a coop on an acre of the farm so that my current free range can continue. The silkies I will have to fence in as they are not able to avoid predation as well.

 

[aart]

Main coop is 20×20...I just have a 8×8 coop inside it for laying and perching

So run is 20x20 with 8x8 coop inside of it?
Pics?

 

[kathy r]

I am having a similar issue. I have 6 two year old hens and 4 that hatched 2/27. Have a 14x20 run for big girls and a 10x20 for the pullets. Pullets had been living in adjoining run for 6 weeks until we took down the chain link in between and let them be out together about 10 days ago. They were ok at first but the older ones have gotten nasty in the last 4-5 days. I have multiple feeders and waterers and perches around the run. I will try to put up visual barrier today. I am wondering if I need to enlarge the baby coop and make it permanent or if they might settle down and be able to use same coop eventually (coop is 4x6 with 6 nesting boxes and two 6’ roosting bars. More than enough room for 10 chickens I think. One of the “babies” is getting it more than the others and from the two most docile hens! Guess they are tired of being on the bottom. Thanks!