New coop

[Den]

Hi
I started chickens - thinking that I had done my research - not! I bought a prefab coop that I had done alot of checking on. It is terrible. A raccoon got three of our birds, three different ways, before we got the raccoon. So then there were 2. We went out and bought 7 more thinking that the coons brother would come along, Well, that did not happen. Now it is fall, we have the 2 - 5 month old hens (a Plymouth Rock and a Star) in the prefab. We have 2 Rhode Island Reds who seem to be a week older than the other 5. Plus 2 Easter Eggers and 2 Wyandotte plus a Wyandotte Rooster (he does not realize he is a rooster yet) these are only about 11 weeks old. These 7 chickens sleep at night in a full brooder and during the day the Reds are in a small extension to the coop right next door to the older hens and the other 5 are in a dog crate in visual sight ot the older hens. When we have put them all together the hens won't let the younger ones drink or eat.

Now we have built a bigger coop and yard to house all 9 and it will be better for winter. It will be done this week. Do we:
1. Put them all together and hope the numbers of the smaller chickens make it all right? They are close in size but not really.
2. Put the prefab inside the run of the bigger coop and leave the older hens in it and give the younger birds the run of the new coop. In a month when they are closer in size put them actually together and hope the larger group does not hurt the older hens.
3. I have the ideas that roadrunner sent someone else I am going to think on them for awhile but I did not know since we have an issue with a new castle whether that might change how they might come together.

Thank you for any help you can give.

 

[HEChicken]

How much space will they have in the new coop? In my experience, space is the most important factor in integrating successfully. Too little space, and the most dominant hens (usually the older and/or bigger) will guard the area fiercely. Give them enough space, and the birds lower in the pecking order will be able to escape and hide from an attack, until the original birds have accepted them.

If you can provide multiple feed/water stations, that will help too. It is typical of the dominant hens to try to keep the younger ones away from feed/water, but if they have multiple options, the younger ones will be able to eat and drink anyway.

Good luck and keep us posted!