New flock integration

[opie4]

Hi

We got our first chickens this week. 4 pullets.

Sounds easy, small (but big enough) backyard run with coop, a run with shade and 3 fruit trees for shelter and points of interest to peck around...

Have a few issues. The 4 pullets are from 2 different sets at the breeder. 2 are 4-5 months old langshan crossed with road island red) and 2 are light sussex which I think are 2-3 months old.

The sussex are about half the size of the langshans. There was some pecking on day 1, as the bigger birds established the order, this has slowed down now and is more just the big birds chasing them away from wherever they are just to show who is boss. They are getting to the feeders etc but are constantly on the lookout. Sometimes the go back up into the roosting area of the coop, but they are coming out again later which I take as a good sign.

When it comes to night time the big ones are going up to the roosts first and the little ones are either trying to roost in the small lower branches òf the trees which are too small, before hesitantly heading to the roost where they get a bit of jostling and pecking from the bigger birds making sure they are in the right spot.

The two pairs keep to themselves during the day, which I'm sure the little ones are doing for safety in numbers.

I am putting food and water out in multiple locations to make sure they can all get some.

Anything else I should do for them?

I wouldn't say it's full bullying and there are no injuries but there is pretty much 2 seperate flocks going on! This is day 6 of them being in there together, any chance of them all getting on or is the age and breed gap going to always be an issue?

 

[sourland]

Sounds as if you are doing all the right things. Integration takes time, and appears to be progressing normally.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The sussex are about half the size of the langshans.

I find that maturity difference is much more important in this than size difference. If your older ones were bantam and smaller than the sussex you'd probably see the bantams as dominant.

this has slowed down now and is more just the big birds chasing them away from wherever they are just to show who is boss. They are getting to the feeders etc but are constantly on the lookout. Sometimes the go back up into the roosting area of the coop, but they are coming out again later which I take as a good sign.

I take it as a really good sign. It is pretty typical for the more dominant mature chickens to peck the less mature when they invade their personal space. It usually doesn't take the younger long to learn to stay out of that personal space and just avoid them. The older ones don't feel that way. They may walk up to the younger and then peck them for being in that personal space. Nothing fair about that but when you are the boss you are the boss and just don't care.

When it comes to night time the big ones are going up to the roosts first and the little ones are either trying to roost in the small lower branches òf the trees which are too small, before hesitantly heading to the roost where they get a bit of jostling and pecking from the bigger birds making sure they are in the right spot.

Again, sounds normal. Often my younger will not sleep on the roosts with the older until the pullets start laying. I don't care where mine sleep as long as it is not in the nests and is somewhere predator safe. When they mature enough they'll work it out.

The two pairs keep to themselves during the day, which I'm sure the little ones are doing for safety in numbers.

Chickens are social animals and like to be with other chickens. Luckily you have more than one of each age so they have a buddy they can hang with. It could be a lot harder if one were by itself.

I am putting food and water out in multiple locations to make sure they can all get some.

Anything else I should do for them?

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Just try to not force them to share a tight space together and let them work that out by themselves as much as you can.

When I'm integrating my goal is that no one gets hurt. Nothing more complicated than that. All the one big happy flock can and will come later. There is no need to rush it.

I make it sound like this separation and conflict always happens. It doesn't always though it is relatively common. Sometimes they mix and mingle really well, even with a two month age difference. A few people have even said their older chicks take care of the younger, keeping them warm and stuff like that. You just happened to get some that don't. Mine don't either but they also usually don't try to kill them.

I wouldn't say it's full bullying and there are no injuries but there is pretty much 2 seperate flocks going on! This is day 6 of them being in there together, any chance of them all getting on or is the age and breed gap going to always be an issue?

 

[opie4]

I find that maturity difference is much more important in this than size difference. If your older ones were bantam and smaller than the sussex you'd probably see the bantams as dominant.


I take it as a really good sign. It is pretty typical for the more dominant mature chickens to peck the less mature when they invade their personal space. It usually doesn't take the younger long to learn to stay out of that personal space and just avoid them. The older ones don't feel that way. They may walk up to the younger and then peck them for being in that personal space. Nothing fair about that but when you are the boss you are the boss and just don't care.


Again, sounds normal. Often my younger will not sleep on the roosts with the older until the pullets start laying. I don't care where mine sleep as long as it is not in the nests and is somewhere predator safe. When they mature enough they'll work it out.


Chickens are social animals and like to be with other chickens. Luckily you have more than one of each age so they have a buddy they can hang with. It could be a lot harder if one were by itself.


Sounds like you are doing everything right. Just try to not force them to share a tight space together and let them work that out by themselves as much as you can.

When I'm integrating my goal is that no one gets hurt. Nothing more complicated than that. All the one big happy flock can and will come later. There is no need to rush it.

I make it sound like this separation and conflict always happens. It doesn't always though it is relatively common. Sometimes they mix and mingle really well, even with a two month age difference. A few people have even said their older chicks take care of the younger, keeping them warm and stuff like that. You just happened to get some that don't. Mine don't either but they also usually don't try to kill them.

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.

A couple of times today the older ones almost tolerated them being quiet close, minding their own business foraging away, mixed in with plenty of chasing them off the preferred areas.

As it started to get dark, the older ones were into the coop first and then stood guard at the top of the ramp. The little ones took about 5 goes to get up and in past the pecks and as soon as they did they all settled down.

I guess that's pretty good less than a week in!