So..I'm adding 2 chickens to my flock...

[Kerbouchard]

And by flock, I mean I only had 3. I added 2 more today and they are staying pretty solitary. I tried to stay about the same age, but the newer ones are smaller. It's obvious that the bigger ones are picking on them.

I know the conventional advice is to get two pens and keep them close so that they get used each other, but this is just in my back yard. I don't have the space, money, or resources to build two pens.

Any advice on how to make them 'friends' faster?

The older hens(year and a half) are crowding the younger ones off of their water so I need to figure out something.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

And by flock, I mean I only had 3. I added 2 more today and they are staying pretty solitary. I tried to stay about the same age, but the newer ones are smaller. It's obvious that the bigger ones are picking on them.

I know the conventional advice is to get two pens and keep them close so that they get used each other, but this is just in my back yard. I don't have the space, money, or resources to build two pens.

Any advice on how to make them 'friends' faster?

The older hens(year and a half) are crowding the younger ones off of their water so I need to figure out something.

How much space are the birds in and is it an enclosed pen in the yard or the yard as a whole that they are in? As you have seen, resource control is a common issue during the integration period - a simple step to help keep this from being a problem is to add extra feed/water stations in various places around the area the birds have access to. Having more than one station in more than one location makes it difficult for the established birds to control all access/prevent the new birds from having food/water.
Where did you source the new birds from? and how old are they?

 

[Kerbouchard]

I have a coup but lately, I haven't even been closing the door on it. They pretty much have the entire backyard as their domain. I added a fence around my raised bed garden so they don't have access to that.

I started with 4, but someone on this forum said Roxanne may have been a Rocky so I returned it and went with three. I added two more this morning and they haven't really made friends. I did add a few treat stations throughout my backyard so they could have their space, but I'm worried if they will be able to coexist with the older birds.

The original ones are at least 150% of the size of the new ones even though they are supposed to be around the same age.

I freerange the birds and let them kind of do whatever they want to, other than fencing in my garden.

They were purchased from D&L in Denton TX.

I think I'll add an additional watering station until they figure out their hierarchy.

The new ones are about a year old and my existing ones are about a year and a half. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Kerbouchard]

I guess my real question is how long until they break out of their packs. I added two so they wouldn't be lonely, but instead of five, I have 3 + 2.

 

[Tolbunt]

If you just had a dog crate or something of that sort put the two new hens in that. Leave them where they can see the other hens for two days. Then on the second night put the two hens into the coop when you know your other hens are asleep. That is the way I do it and normally there is a bit of pecking at the beginning but they get along in the end.

 

[azygous]

It sounds like you may have large breeds which mature slowly. While most standard chickens reach full size in a year, large breeds (Brahmas, Cochins, etc) take two years to reach full size. Just a bit of info that might explain the smaller size of your year-olds.

You might be able to take advantage of the smaller size of the newcomers and create a feeding/watering station for them with a fence around it, doesn't need to be a large area, and leave a clearance at the bottom that the smaller ones can squeeze under but the larger ones can't fit. The younger ones will discover this very quickly and take full advantage, have no doubt.

Your large yard will make it possible for the new chickens and the older ones to adjust to one another without too much fuss. Understand that a certain amount of pecking is normal to establish a hierarchy, otherwise known as the pecking order. This gets reinforced periodically. What isn't normal is continual bickering and fighting, confrontations that leave no doubt that you have conflict issues to address. I don't see that being a problem in your small flock, though, and especially since you have no overcrowding issues.

I think you can pretty much relax and be confident your flock will work things out. Just watch that the younger ones are assured of getting enough food and water.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Thanks for the help and advice. Yeah, it's not like they are continually fighting. Just more like the original three stick together and the new two are sticking together. I guess over time they will work things out.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Well, apparently, one of the new hens decided to take a stroll and we got some e-mails from some neighbors. We do have a nine foot privacy fence, but I guess that isn't good enough. I've read that one side of the wings can be clipped without causing them discomfort. Anyone want to tell me the best way or point me to a good link?

 

[Kerbouchard]

Okay, so these things are freakishly fast and they fly. I can't catch them to clip them. I think they are laughing at me in their chicken language.

 

[aart]

They will probably stay in separate packs indefinitely.
Clipping the flight feathers on one wing might get them to stay put, but part of the reason they are trying to get away is because they are not welcome by the existing 3.
Where are they roosting at night, that's the easiest time to catch them.
Keeping the newbies fenced off for a couple weeks is a good way for the existing birds to get used to the new....might help 'home' the new birds to your yard too.