New Chickens mixing with old.

[roaminggnome61]

I was wondering if my pullets will ever get along with the year old hens. I have 4 new 18 week old hens that have no idea how to roost or how to lay eggs. Now that they are in a portable with 2 "experienced" hens, the new hens are too frightened of the old hens to use the nesting box. Will they ever get along and cohabitate in harmony?

 

[HEChicken]

They're still pretty young and probably are not ready to lay yet. When the time comes that they are ready to lay, they will most likely get in the nest box. As for if they will ever get along, the answer is "yes". Integration can take some time and there will need to be a new pecking order established but in the end it will happen.

 

[roaminggnome61]

two of them have just started to lay! and of course they are not using the box;/

 

[gertsgal]

My first 2 chickens came from a friend who said her 2 Polish hens were getting beat up because they were at the bottom of the pecking order.She gave them to me and I kept them for a month by themselves. those were the 2 happiest chickens you ever saw! Then I introduced 3 pullets into the flock and my 2 Polish hens (my sweet, precious angels) in 2 minutes became the playground bullies.I couldn't believe my eyes. It's been a week now and things are starting to calm down. Peace does get restored.