New coop-mates question

[k10k]

Hello lovely chicken people! I am a first-time chicken mom and OMG I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
I have two sets of two (the first flock had two roosters, so I rehomed them and then quickly got two more chicks): older girls are 11 weeks and baby girls are 6 weeks. I have been putting them together in the run (supervised) for a couple of weeks now. No pecking, the big girls just chase them around for a bit, forget about them, and then chase some more. The younger girls do not seem too bothered by being chased. But they recently found the chicken coop and now they just stay inside of it instead of being out in the run with the big girls. Should I close the coop door so they have to stay out in the run? Also, I want the little girls to sleep in the coop soon.. will the big girls force them out of the coop at night? Should I close the coop door to keep all four in there? I just don't want any bullying or pecking. Any and all advice welcome! TIA!

 

[Pghelp]

I wouldn't shut the littles out of the coop. That's their shelter and refuge. Do you have enough hiding places in the run for them to escape when the big ones pick on them. We latched the door of the coop so the littles could go in and out but too small for the big girls. That might work since none of them are old enough to need the nesting boxes yet. If you have to exclude from the coop, shut out the big ones instead of the littles. You could try shutting them all in at night. Once they peacefully sleep together it seems they get along better.

 

[k10k]

You are right. They seem totally fine with the big girls, but they do like the refuge. I just worry they arent getting used to the bigger gals. But again, no bullying just chasing! I will try that at night.. I kind of want to just put them all together and see how it goes.. But I worry! Thanks so much for responding!

 

[Pghelp]

It takes time and patience. Our 3 month old ones will hang out in cautious proximity to the big girls but they seem calm and relieved to not have to worry about being chased. We actually have a 2 coop setup since our older ladies are quite established at 3 1/2 years old. They have the option of visiting the big girls coop but so far they retreat to the baby coop for sleep and resting in the shade. They've been with the big girls since 8 weeks but so far everyone seems to prefer separate sleeping arrangements. Seems to keep everyone happy!

 

[aart]

You are right. They seem totally fine with the big girls, but they do like the refuge.

Is the coop the only place of refuge?
See the clutter your run at the bottom of these other tips about....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[k10k]

Is the coop the only place of refuge?
See the clutter your run at the bottom of these other tips about....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Wow thanks! Great info!

 

[k10k]

It takes time and patience. Our 3 month old ones will hang out in cautious proximity to the big girls but they seem calm and relieved to not have to worry about being chased. We actually have a 2 coop setup since our older ladies are quite established at 3 1/2 years old. They have the option of visiting the big girls coop but so far they retreat to the baby coop for sleep and resting in the shade. They've been with the big girls since 8 weeks but so far everyone seems to prefer separate sleeping arrangements. Seems to keep everyone happy!

Ohhh ok. You’ve got quite the age gap, which I expect I will have at some point too when adding new ones to my older flock. It’s easy to tell how the younger girls are feeling by their behavior which is great! They’ve been ok! One time I saw Them huddled in a corner so I moved them back to their brooder (this was early on in the intro stage). I hope my girls can learn the sleep together... I left the littles in the coop and closed the door for a bit to see how they would all do. But the big girls stayed in nesting box while little girls slept down below. I ended up putting the littles back in their brooder in the garage, as it gets about 55 at night here. They’re 6 weeks so they should be fine outside... I’m just being sensitive!

 

[Pghelp]

Yes, it is a big age gap. One by one we lost our older hens so I knew I needed to work on a new flock. The laying days are numbered I'm sure for the older girls. They're getting more tolerant and we're building a bigger coop so I have visions of them all cuddled together sleeping this winter! And we should have eggs from the littles this autumn!