Old birds introduced in to young flock

[rlandsvik]

I have 5 hens 3 roosters all around 5 months old. I took the baddest 2 roosters and traded them for two 2 year old hens. Then hens came from a flock of all roosters. Tonight at bed time the 2 older hens guarded the door to coop and finally let my ladies go to bed. My question is how long before these 2 new Cougars get used to being with the 5 month old spring chickens?

 

[sourland]

Restructuring the pecking order takes time. Sometimes just a matter of days, and sometimes months. In my experience the greater the space available to the birds the more quickly they learn to coexist peacefully.

 

[rlandsvik]

Thanks. Ya right now the 5 month olds who I've had for 3 months now are not letting the older recently introduced eat. Worst comes to worst I'll just bring them back and keep my flock of 6.

 

[rlandsvik]

But the 2 year olds are rescues from a flock of 15 roosters who are all going in on September 1st. So these 2 hens should be able to stand their ground after living with a pile of cocks

 

[aart]

Home field advantage, newbie interlopers are always bottom of the pecking order.

Lots of space, multiple feed/water stations, places to hide 'out of line of sight' and/or up and away from aggressors all will help the integration go more smoothly.
But it still takes time.
Leave them to go at it..... unless there is serious blood drawn or someone gets pinned down or trapped and beaten....do not intervene.

 

[rlandsvik]

That's what I've been doing. Seen some progression last night as the two newbies slept inside the coop on a lower rung of the multiple roosts. I think we'll all get along eventually, was just a tense first 24 hours. Thanks for the input everyone!