New chickens won't mix with old ones

[LaurenHChickens]

Hi there,

I hope someone can help. About a month and a half ago, we bought two new chickens (a maran and a poule d'azur) to add to our flock of 3 (2 x sussex and 1 x wynadotte - sorry about the spelling!).

We borrowed a chicken house from a friend then fenced off half of our chicken enclosure to put the house in. This way, the new girls and the old girls could see each other through the fence (with separate accommodation).

Then, after a week or so, as we let our chickens free range, we opened up the fence so the two newbies could join the other chickens roaming around the garden.

Unfortunately, it's been 4 weeks now and the chickens still have their two separate flocks and the two newbies avoid the 3 older chickens when they are in the garden (when they are all in the run in the morning, they get chased so stay out of their way). They also still go back to their own enclosure at night.

What I want to know is how is the best way to integrate them so they can live in the same house (it is more than big enough for 5 chickens)? We have to give our temporary coop back to the friend soon.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello LaurenHChickens.
Welcome to BYC.
The simplest answer is to divide your coop into two sections, each with it's own entrance.

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC! I agree with post#2. I have added new chickens each year that way, and tho 3 groups (1 yr olds, 2 yr olds, and 3 yr olds) are now 'integrated,' they are still distinctly separate groups. I doubt they will ever be friends. Roosts that are more than big enough are not shared, so I had to have a separate roost for each group.

 

[LaurenHChickens]

Hi both, thanks for your replies, we can't separate into two sections as in a week or so we are only going to have one (large) chicken house. We need to integrate. Any advice as to how we go about this would be much appreciated. thanks.

 

[SueT]

Make extra roosts, or put dividers on roost. The worst time is roosting time. You could add an extra feed station, and even another waterer.
How are they reacting to each other right now? Chasing is okay, drawing blood is not......

 

[LaurenHChickens]

They chase for about 3 seconds until the newbies run away and then they carry on with what they were doing. No blood has been drawn. I think that's a good idea to add an extra feed station and waterer. Do you think it's best to place the newbies on the roost next to the sleeping ones at night?

 

[SueT]

They chase for about 3 seconds until the newbies run away and then they carry on with what they were doing. No blood has been drawn. I think that's a good idea to add an extra feed station and waterer. Do you think it's best to place the newbies on the roost next to the sleeping ones at night?

Chasing for 3 seconds is no big deal.
Can you add another roost? Divide the roost? Here are photos of simple roost dividers I improvised...dividing roosts helps a lot.

 

[LaurenHChickens]

OK that's a good idea. I will install a divider this afternoon. Do you have any advice how to tempt them into the house with the others (or should I just carry them in when they're all asleep)? Thanks for your help!!

 

[wyandotte102]

I have Wyandottes at home, too (they are mean to my newbies). They wouldn’t hurt them but would chase them for a few seconds and sometime peck the top of their head. They kind of egged the other chickens on, too. Also, your Poule D’azur is a smaller breed, am I right? She is more likely to be picked on. Are the newbies chicks?

 

[LaurenHChickens]

The Poule d'Azur is bigger than Henrietta (my Wyandotte) - I think she's going to be as big as the Sussex ones in the end...Henrietta was the lowest in the pecking order out of the three originals (her and the 2 sussex) but she does chase the newbies (although she has got broody now so has more important things on her mind ). The newbies are almost at egg laying stage I think, as they are quite big and their combs are getting big and going redder.