New coop to mix flocks

[KaiStarborn]

I am wondering what the best way to mix my chickens together would be. I am building A new coop so it will not be anyone's "territory". I have 6 hens (3 asian blacks & 3 Plymoth white rock hens). that have been together in 1 coop & 2 chickens (welsummer roo & hen) I want to bring with them into this new coop. I have heard putting them together at night time & letting them wake up with each other in the new neutral ground coop is a good idea. I love them all & they are 3 months apart in age. the 6 being 4 months & the welsummers being 7 months. Sorry if there is anything wrong with this post or if is in the wrong spot. Still figuring things out. Pix for fun.

 

[DobieLover]

You did just fine posting!
How long have you had these two separate flocks?
Do they currently intermingle in an open area?
How large will their new coop and run be?
Regardless of neutral territory the flocks should be gradually introduced starting with a look don't touch period.
That can all start now so they will be ready to be put into the new larger coop together.

 

[KaiStarborn]

I have had them all since they were a few days old. They do not currently mingle. The coop/run will be big enough for all to be happy. I can move the flocks closer so we can open the runs & allow them to mix during the day.

 

[DobieLover]

I have had them all since they were a few days old. They do not currently mingle. The coop/run will be big enough for all to be happy. I can move the flocks closer so we can open the runs & allow them to mix during the day.

That will be good.
How much total run space will they have? Are there places to hide if a lower ranking member needs relief from upper ranking members?
Generally speaking, the more space the better.

 

[Shadrach]

They do not currently mingle.

Is this because they won't or they can't?

 

[Peppercorngal]

Chickens are not territorial, so a new coop won't make a difference. They have a "pecking order" that indicates the highest to lowest "powerful" hen in the group. Roosters do not usually have anything to do with the pecking order. If your two groups have not had the opportunity to "mingle" in a free range situation they probably won't get along just because they are thrown together in a new coop! The safest way to combine two different groups is to free range them together in a large area where they can escape each other's pecks. It takes time, but eventually they will accept one another and even start to "live" with the opposite flock than they started in. I have a group of Delaware hens I bought and put them in my 2nd run & coop. I started free ranging them with the 26 other chickens and just let them all go where they wanted. Now one of the 26 flock sleeps in coop 2 with 3 Delawares! One Delaware has "gone over" and lives in coop and run#1 permanently now. I lock them in at night, but during the day they are free to range and pick the coop they want to lay eggs in. I have 4 hens that lay in coop #2 that started in coop/run #1!! The Delawares run to coop #1 to lay eggs every morning when I let them out! Odd bunch, but that is chickens for you! Good luck, may they all prosper!!

 

[Shadrach]

Chickens are not territorial,

Actually they are.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, I think I would try it. What will the new run look like? Will you be able to leave the pop up door open, so that the birds can go out into the run at will?

If you have some clutter in the new run, some mini walls, roosts, places where birds can get out of sight of each other, and multiple feed bowls. I think I would just try the put everyone in there at night.

I would not worry about your rooster at all, but the single hen of the hen/rooster pair, might be attacked. If you are not quite ready to do this, I think I would try putting a couple of middle of the pecking birds with the pair. And see if you can't let that scuffle settle down, then combine the two flocks.

A single hen, is a difficult addition, a rooster over 6 months is easy.

Mrs K