New flock members and issues

[Leonard4]

Hello! I got some great advice last time I posted so I thought I’d post about some other little bumps in the road.

Backstory: Added two new pullets to my existing 2 hen flock. Introduced them slowly (over the course of a month) and finally put the new bids in our existing coop with the older two last weekend. My coop/run was designed for 4 birds so it’s big enough.

So the original two are definitely establishing the pecking order. I wouldn’t say it’s extreme though. This morning was a little rough, but they’ve calmed down. A couple issues:

The smaller new pullet is about 15 weeks, so she’s still on starter/grower feed. One of the originals won’t eat her layer feed now! She only wants to eat the starter/grower. I have multiple feeding stations of both foods. I also have oyster shell but they never eat it. Is it ok for her to have the starter/grower? Will there be shell issues?

The last two night I’ve gone out to close up the coop, the little one is still in the run. Like they aren’t letting her into the coop. I’ve had to grab her and put her in there at night. Is that ok? I won’t want her to be alone at night! I’m assuming it’s because she’s smaller and they are are ostracizing her.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Boise-girls]

You might look at your roost set-up to see if it's contributing to the problem. I have a similar issue, although the girls seem comfortable with our short-term work-arounds. The big-girl roost is right above the pop door, so they are effectively guarding it and can peck anyone who tries to get in or out. My coop is too narrow to change the set-up, and on the small side, so I'm planning to get a larger one before cold weather hits.

For now, the smallest hen is usually the first to retire - she knows she won't get in otherwise. If she's still outside when I tuck them in, I'll throw a little scratch in the pen, everyone runs out, and she sneaks inside.

The second-smallest spends the night on the open pop door. I affixed a branch to it so she'd be more comfortable. Hopefully, when we have a larger coop with roosts set back from the door, everyone will be happily inside!

 

[3KillerBs]

Hello! I got some great advice last time I posted so I thought I’d post about some other little bumps in the road.

Backstory: Added two new pullets to my existing 2 hen flock. Introduced them slowly (over the course of a month) and finally put the new bids in our existing coop with the older two last weekend. My coop/run was designed for 4 birds so it’s big enough.

So the original two are definitely establishing the pecking order. I wouldn’t say it’s extreme though. This morning was a little rough, but they’ve calmed down. A couple issues:

The smaller new pullet is about 15 weeks, so she’s still on starter/grower feed. One of the originals won’t eat her layer feed now! She only wants to eat the starter/grower. I have multiple feeding stations of both foods. I also have oyster shell but they never eat it. Is it ok for her to have the starter/grower? Will there be shell issues?

The last two night I’ve gone out to close up the coop, the little one is still in the run. Like they aren’t letting her into the coop. I’ve had to grab her and put her in there at night. Is that ok? I won’t want her to be alone at night! I’m assuming it’s because she’s smaller and they are are ostracizing her.

Thank you in advance for your help!

When I added youngsters I switched the entire flock over to All-Flock feed with oystershell on the side.

What are the actual dimensions of the coop?

How are the roosts set up?

Photos might be helpful.

 

[SilkySilkie]

firstly i bought a type of feed that both pullets and layers can eat secondly the first time i introduced the pullets to the flock it was a bit fast just bought them and i put them together to see what would happen and it wasnt bad ( i didnt have a rooster then) it was blood and all that it was really nothing they didnt really care that there were some new pullets lastly the roosts are far from the coop door maybe not have the roost close to the door