Pullet introductions - is this normal?

[dadimari]

I've been introducing 2 new pullets (4 month old Easter Egger and 5 month old Black Copper Marans at the time of start of introduction) to my 2- 2.5 year old hens over the last 3+ weeks following the advice in many threads on this topic. (This is my first time introducing pullets.) I've had all 4 chickens in the same 4'x18' run with a wire fence/divider where the hens have 4'x12' of run space with access to the ladder to the hen house and nesting boxes. Initially, I also had the henhouse divided by wire fencing and would place the pullets in there on the roosting bar manually at night. However, after the first couple of nights, the pullets figured out how to fly over the divider and put themselves in the henhouse overnight. I was certainly okay with this but would continue to manually put them in their sectioned area of the run every morning. This has gone on for the past 22 mornings, though over the last week, the pullets seem to be interested in coming out on their own in the morning. (I did "test" them on occasion to have them together supervised in the run and one of the hens would chase and peck at the pullets, especially the smaller of the 2, so I've been very cautious and taking things slow.) Today, I decided to let the pullets come out on their own and I was a watchful observer. It went pretty well. The hen that I was concerned about did chase the pullets a bit but did not completely terrorize them or threaten their safety and they quickly went about pecking and scratching in the dirt. I was really pleased with this; however, after I added leaves to their run for enrichment, the new pullets went into the henhouse and are hanging out on the roosting bars. I was able to coax one of them out with scratch grains and the other did want to come out (she was standing in the doorway) but ultimately decided not to. The little one went back into the henhouse when she was done scratching around. So, my question is, should I be concerned about this behavior? I hate that they are spending a beautiful day in the henhouse, but maybe this is temporary and part of the process? Or should I go back to dividing up the run?

I also have questions about their roosting at night. Since the pullets have been flying themselves into the henhouse, they have been relegated to sleeping on the edge of the nesting box or on the small roosting bar that is just outside of the nesting box. This is problematic because of the poop; however, I don't know if this will resolve itself over time or if I need to intervene. I've already removed the wire divider from the henhouse and roosting bar so there is no lack of space (4 feet wide). I do have an extra roosting bar and brackets. Should I move the other bar and add the second one? If so, should I make them at slightly different heights or at the same height? Or will this resolve over time? I understand that the hens will be more accepting of the pullets when they reach sexual maturity which should be soon for both.

I've attached photos of the whole coop and set up described above . Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[Debbie292d]

I've been introducing 2 new pullets (4 month old Easter Egger and 5 month old Black Copper Marans at the time of start of introduction) to my 2- 2.5 year old hens over the last 3+ weeks following the advice in many threads on this topic. (This is my first time introducing pullets.) I've had all 4 chickens in the same 4'x18' run with a wire fence/divider where the hens have 4'x12' of run space with access to the ladder to the hen house and nesting boxes. Initially, I also had the henhouse divided by wire fencing and would place the pullets in there on the roosting bar manually at night. However, after the first couple of nights, the pullets figured out how to fly over the divider and put themselves in the henhouse overnight. I was certainly okay with this but would continue to manually put them in their sectioned area of the run every morning. This has gone on for the past 22 mornings, though over the last week, the pullets seem to be interested in coming out on their own in the morning. (I did "test" them on occasion to have them together supervised in the run and one of the hens would chase and peck at the pullets, especially the smaller of the 2, so I've been very cautious and taking things slow.) Today, I decided to let the pullets come out on their own and I was a watchful observer. It went pretty well. The hen that I was concerned about did chase the pullets a bit but did not completely terrorize them or threaten their safety and they quickly went about pecking and scratching in the dirt. I was really pleased with this; however, after I added leaves to their run for enrichment, the new pullets went into the henhouse and are hanging out on the roosting bars. I was able to coax one of them out with scratch grains and the other did want to come out (she was standing in the doorway) but ultimately decided not to. The little one went back into the henhouse when she was done scratching around. So, my question is, should I be concerned about this behavior? I hate that they are spending a beautiful day in the henhouse, but maybe this is temporary and part of the process? Or should I go back to dividing up the run?

I also have questions about their roosting at night. Since the pullets have been flying themselves into the henhouse, they have been relegated to sleeping on the edge of the nesting box or on the small roosting bar that is just outside of the nesting box. This is problematic because of the poop; however, I don't know if this will resolve itself over time or if I need to intervene. I've already removed the wire divider from the henhouse and roosting bar so there is no lack of space (4 feet wide). I do have an extra roosting bar and brackets. Should I move the other bar and add the second one? If so, should I make them at slightly different heights or at the same height? Or will this resolve over time? I understand that the hens will be more accepting of the pullets when they reach sexual maturity which should be soon for both.

I've attached photos of the whole coop and set up described above . Any thoughts are appreciated!View attachment 3973506
View attachment 3973488View attachment 3973485View attachment 3973486

You have a beautiful coop and run!

We have many bunches of chickens at various ages so every few weeks we're integrating them to one coop or another pen, and so forth.

There are almost always issues to some extent, but after a few days they always seem to work them out. On occasion, I've had five-month olds huddled on the floor of the coop, too afraid to climb the ramp to join the others. That may last up to two weeks until one of them finally gets the guts to try it, then they all do.

I think your roosts are fine and they'll all use them in time.

I'd open that up but lean a pallet or wooden box, something on that order so they younger ones can get away if they need to.

Sometimes having two sets of food/water helps too.

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[Squawkers]

Your coop is so pretty! I’m jealous

 

[dadimari]

You have a beautiful coop and run!

We have many bunches of chickens at various ages so every few weeks we're integrating them to one coop or another pen, and so forth.

There are almost always issues to some extent, but after a few days they always seem to work them out. On occasion, I've had five-month olds huddled on the floor of the coop, too afraid to climb the ramp to join the others. That may last up to two weeks until one of them finally gets the guts to try it, then they all do.

I think your roosts are fine and they'll all use them in time.

I'd open that up but lean a pallet or wooden box, something on that order so they younger ones can get away if they need to.

Sometimes having two sets of food/water helps too.

Welcome to BYC!!

Thanks Debbie! Okay, it's good to know that this will work out. I do have an upside-down Chewy box in there (added after the photos were taken) with a hole cut out to give extra hiding spaces and there is a perch too, but I may add another perch if I can figure out the best place for it. I do have an extra set of food and water so that they won't compete for those resources.
Thanks for the reassurance that these things will work themselves out!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would add the extra roost. Even if the roost length you have is sufficient for all of them, that doesn't mean the hens want to share. It can take weeks for my pullets to finally start moving onto the hen roost.

I wouldn't worry about the pullets choosing to stay away from the hens, as long as they can eat and drink unimpeded. It's normal that they wouldn't be considered full members of the flock even after integration is over, as they're not yet sexually mature.

 

[dadimari]

I would add the extra roost. Even if the roost length you have is sufficient for all of them, that doesn't mean the hens want to share. It can take weeks for my pullets to finally start moving onto to the hen roost.

I wouldn't worry about the pullets choosing to stay away from the hens, as long as they can eat and drink unimpeded. It's normal that they wouldn't be considered full members of the flock even after integration is over, as they're not yet sexually mature.

Thanks! Good to know! I'll keep a pulse on the roosting bar situation and will add the second bar if they don't move up to the current bar in a couple of weeks.

 

[dadimari]

I've been introducing 2 new pullets (4 month old Easter Egger and 5 month old Black Copper Marans at the time of start of introduction) to my 2- 2.5 year old hens over the last 3+ weeks following the advice in many threads on this topic. (This is my first time introducing pullets.) I've had all 4 chickens in the same 4'x18' run with a wire fence/divider where the hens have 4'x12' of run space with access to the ladder to the hen house and nesting boxes. Initially, I also had the henhouse divided by wire fencing and would place the pullets in there on the roosting bar manually at night. However, after the first couple of nights, the pullets figured out how to fly over the divider and put themselves in the henhouse overnight. I was certainly okay with this but would continue to manually put them in their sectioned area of the run every morning. This has gone on for the past 22 mornings, though over the last week, the pullets seem to be interested in coming out on their own in the morning. (I did "test" them on occasion to have them together supervised in the run and one of the hens would chase and peck at the pullets, especially the smaller of the 2, so I've been very cautious and taking things slow.) Today, I decided to let the pullets come out on their own and I was a watchful observer. It went pretty well. The hen that I was concerned about did chase the pullets a bit but did not completely terrorize them or threaten their safety and they quickly went about pecking and scratching in the dirt. I was really pleased with this; however, after I added leaves to their run for enrichment, the new pullets went into the henhouse and are hanging out on the roosting bars. I was able to coax one of them out with scratch grains and the other did want to come out (she was standing in the doorway) but ultimately decided not to. The little one went back into the henhouse when she was done scratching around. So, my question is, should I be concerned about this behavior? I hate that they are spending a beautiful day in the henhouse, but maybe this is temporary and part of the process? Or should I go back to dividing up the run?

I also have questions about their roosting at night. Since the pullets have been flying themselves into the henhouse, they have been relegated to sleeping on the edge of the nesting box or on the small roosting bar that is just outside of the nesting box. This is problematic because of the poop; however, I don't know if this will resolve itself over time or if I need to intervene. I've already removed the wire divider from the henhouse and roosting bar so there is no lack of space (4 feet wide). I do have an extra roosting bar and brackets. Should I move the other bar and add the second one? If so, should I make them at slightly different heights or at the same height? Or will this resolve over time? I understand that the hens will be more accepting of the pullets when they reach sexual maturity which should be soon for both.

I've attached photos of the whole coop and set up described above . Any thoughts are appreciated!View attachment 3973506
View attachment 3973488View attachment 3973485View attachment 3973486

So, I have an update or maybe more of a revelation. I realized that the pullets went into the henhouse yesterday after I added a whole lot of leaves and spread them out throughout the run. I think that they are a bit freaked out by the leaves and not the other hens! Especially because they were co-existing in the pen very well for hours before I added the leaves. It's the first time I've done that since I got them. Eventually, the smallest one came out this morning and started scratching around like the big girls. I'm waiting for the other pullet to feel comfortable enough to come out on her own. If she doesn't, I'll rake the leaves to one side of the run so that the area where she can get food and water will be clear and less scary for her.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Right now, your chickens are living with each other without hurting each other. That is a big win.

As you noted, the change by adding those leaves possibly caused some issues. Why change things again by raking those leaves? They will soon get used to them. One pullet already has.

As others have mentioned it is normal and natural for immature chickens to avoid more mature chickens. Each situation is different and there all kinds of exceptions but your pullets avoiding the older ones during the day and at night is normal and natural. Occasionally some of my younger chickens mingle a lot with the adults (there can always be exceptions) but my pullets generally avoid the hens during the day and at night until they start to lay. Then the pullets are accepted into adult hen society.

I'm not saying to stop paying attention. If the pullets start getting beat up and you see blood you need to take immediate action. At this point it sounds unlikely but with living animals anything can happen. But try to stop changing things to make them "better" (like raking those leaves) and let them work things out on their own timeline.

It sounds like you have an issue with them pooping in the nest while sleeping. That is an issue worth addressing. The way I solved that with mine was to install a second roost a little lower than the main roost, horizontally separated from the main roost by a few feet, and higher than the nests to stop them from sleeping in the nests. Your two oldest will probably want to sleep on the highest point available. With the pullets in the habit of sleeping where they now are you may have to retrain them to the new roost. After it is too dark for them to move around on their own, move them to the new roosts. They should soon get the message and switch to sleeping there. When they mature enough they will move to the main roosts on their own.

Good luck!

 

[dadimari]

Right now, your chickens are living with each other without hurting each other. That is a big win.

As you noted, the change by adding those leaves possibly caused some issues. Why change things again by raking those leaves? They will soon get used to them. One pullet already has.

As others have mentioned it is normal and natural for immature chickens to avoid more mature chickens. Each situation is different and there all kinds of exceptions but your pullets avoiding the older ones during the day and at night is normal and natural. Occasionally some of my younger chickens mingle a lot with the adults (there can always be exceptions) but my pullets generally avoid the hens during the day and at night until they start to lay. Then the pullets are accepted into adult hen society.

I'm not saying to stop paying attention. If the pullets start getting beat up and you see blood you need to take immediate action. At this point it sounds unlikely but with living animals anything can happen. But try to stop changing things to make them "better" (like raking those leaves) and let them work things out on their own timeline.

It sounds like you have an issue with them pooping in the nest while sleeping. That is an issue worth addressing. The way I solved that with mine was to install a second roost a little lower than the main roost, horizontally separated from the main roost by a few feet, and higher than the nests to stop them from sleeping in the nests. Your two oldest will probably want to sleep on the highest point available. With the pullets in the habit of sleeping where they now are you may have to retrain them to the new roost. After it is too dark for them to move around on their own, move them to the new roosts. They should soon get the message and switch to sleeping there. When they mature enough they will move to the main roosts on their own.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! Yes, I'm trying not to be a helicopter chicken mom and I did let things unfold on their own today. Though it took a few hours, the other pullet did eventually come out of the henhouse and was scratching around with the others and seemed very comfortable. I was initially concerned about her not coming out due to the lack of food and water, but she came out and had access to all.
Regarding the roosting at night and the set up in the henhouse, it's 4' wide and 3' deep so I don't have a lot of room to space out the second roosting bar by a few feet. If I add the second roosting bar, I'd need to move the original one that goes through the center of the henhouse and evenly space them (about 9" from either end of the henhouse?) leaving about 13" between them. I can make one slightly higher than the other. If I do this modification, should I do it now? Or should I wait until after they both start laying eggs to see if the other 2 will accept them on the current roosting bar? One night a couple of weeks ago one of the pullets finagled her way onto the roosting bar and roosted overnight right next to the hen that is molting. They stayed like that the whole night and I thought that this might be the start of something good, but it was a one time occurrence.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Regarding the roosting at night and the set up in the henhouse, it's 4' wide and 3' deep so I don't have a lot of room to space out the second roosting bar by a few feet. If I add the second roosting bar, I'd need to move the original one that goes through the center of the henhouse and evenly space them (about 9" from either end of the henhouse?) leaving about 13" between them.

If that's the spacing, that's going to be tough - the roosts will be too close to the walls and likely too close together as well.

Is there a way to run 2 roosts across the shorter 3' depth? (Leave the brackets for the 4' long roost if you want, you can likely switch back to a single roost once the younger birds are a bit older and more accepted by the hens). I see you have the access door there but if you build a leg for that side as support, sort of like this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535