Rough Integration :/

[Wyorp Rock]

so i have some 3 month olds integrated in with my 9 month olds, and i did the puppy playpen method for a few days. when i let them all out together the bigs did totally fine with the littles! they did the normal pecking (nothing too serious) and seemed to not mind the babies at all really. but the thing is, is that i can't seem to get the littles to go around the bigs without screaming and flapping and causing a huge scene! they act like my bigger hens are going to kill them! and my older hens are standing there like did i do something wrong? will they come around and calm down around my bigger girls? should i put them back in the pen and give them more time?

thanks for your responses!! they really do have a lot of room in their run and i'm still letting the bigs free range a few hours a day while i'm outside doing "chores". if they're not hurting each other (which they haven't so far) i guess i'll just let them be! they stay on separate sides of the run basically with their own water, and i go in 2-3 times a day to make sure the littles get their own time to eat without being bothered. i'll update in a few days!

You mention that you can't get the littles to go around the bigs without them screaming and flapping? Are you trying to make them?

If they are all in the same space, are eating/drinking, no one is being harmed, they are staying out of each other's way, then let them be.
It's good to make sure the littles are getting enough to eat/drink like you are doing and letting the bigs out for a while so everyone gets a break.

It will eventually calm down (most of the time) Patience and daily observation of behavior. You may still run into problems as they mature and begin pushing into the pecking order.

 

[aart]

they stay on separate sides of the run basically with their own water, and i go in 2-3 times a day to make sure the littles get their own time to eat without being bothered.

Have feed and water on both sides.

 

[mamamage]

you guys rock! thank you!