Struggling to get new chickens integrated- HELP!

[Intheswamp]

You never can tell when she'll find Tonto!!!! Eventually, if she hangs around outside the coop the inmates will become accustomed to her. Give it a few weeks and see what happens. I don't remember....do you let the inmates free range some?

Ed

 

[lcertuche]

Chickens will be chickens so that means pecking order, one or twenty. If she has been seen for a few days then I say bite the bullet and just let her do it. It's tough to watch but usually the bark is worse than the bite (figuratively). She will end up being happier in the long run when she has company. I just integrated 7 five-week old chicks into my flock of 11-week olds. They are doing fine. At first the older ones would chase them around and peck them and still does occasionally. The younger ones just pile in the middle of the older ones when I feed them. I have one pullet that tries to chase them away from me when she sees them around my feet but otherwise it's working out fine. I have two more that are half the size of the other 5-week olds that I am going to turn loose today.

It's a shame you lost her partner. That would have helped her to hang out with. What I did with all my younger ones was put a older pullet in with them for a few days. That would probably help with yours too, plus the old one wouldn't be so quick to attack when it's not on her ground.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My layer flock consists of 4 birds, 2 Barred Rocks & 2 Black Sexlinks. My replacement flock is a group of 6 Welsummers.

This has been the easiest flock integration that I have ever had...the layers mostly ignored the pullets. The only time there is conflict is when I show up with treats...the big girls want their treats and they don't like to share.

The flock boss, the most dominant bird, has established her dominance over the little pullets. They all know who she is and now she leaves them alone, unless there are treats.

I have a Barred Rock who is at the bottom of the pecking order in the layer flock. She seems to enjoy showing the pullets that she is bigger then they are...not a mean bird, she just has never had anyone bellow her in the pecking order.

So aside from little squabbles caused mostly by me, all us going well.

My advice is let the girls work through their pecking order....if there is no blood, there should be no problems. I will say this...integrating just one bird into a flock is challenging.

 

[kostfarm]

Yes we do, when they free range the other 6 hang out together and my lone rangers just ranges on her own.

 

[Zamanthia]

Could you sit the coop outside the dog kennel, connect the coop and the kennel with a wire tunnel or something and give them the entire dog kennel as their run until you can build bigger? Our feathered girls definitely behave better now that we have increased their run space... they don't seem to mind being "cozy" at night in the coop as long as they have room to roam during the day.

Good luck and hopefully your loner will find her place in the flock!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Yes we do, when they free range the other 6 hang out together and my lone rangers just ranges on her own.   

Just a thought...

We were given a single chicken....Long Ago.

The flock beat on this poor bird, so I took a bird from the flock that was on the lower end of the pecking order and cooped this "low pecking order" bird and the new bird together. After a bit they established a relationship...they ranged together, they rooster together...and they hung out together.

After a bit, I then added these 2 birds back into the main flock. Bit of turmoil as pecking order was adjusted and then all was well.

Just a thought....

 

[kostfarm]

We are currently in the process of trying to catch the criminal. Once we know we've gotten the culprit we will start working on creating a larger space and making it more safe. Thanks for all the tips guys! I'll keep you posted on what we catch. For now the other bird seems to be doing ok, it's sad to see her all alone but tonight she roosted on the main roost for awhile! She held her ground for at least 5 minutes. I'm seeing that as a small success

 

[Intheswamp]

Just give'em time...I think it'll work out before too long. And yes, catch that predator...whatever it may be...it is the priority at the moment.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[lcertuche]

Could you sit the coop outside the dog kennel, connect the coop and the kennel with a wire tunnel or something and give them the entire dog kennel as their run until you can build bigger? Our feathered girls definitely behave better now that we have increased their run space... they don't seem to mind being "cozy" at night in the coop as long as they have room to roam during the day.

Good luck and hopefully your loner will find her place in the flock!

I thinks your on target when you say that space makes a difference. I had a 5-week old cochin/brahma mix that would lay into me every time I went to feed or water her (brought blood twice) and now that she is day time free-range it has made all the difference.

 

[kostfarm]

There's our sweet girl. She's too afraid ton me down off the roof and hang out with the other girls. We out some food and water up there for her. When I let them free range they chase her around the yard if she gets too close. Is she going to be ok???