Time to integrate...?

[Paddlefoot]

I’ve read a LOT of the articles and posts on integrating flocks and still have some questions.

Some background: My “littles” are 12 weeks and my “bigs” are 16 weeks. No one is laying, or even near it. The littles are in the coop, but separated from the bigs (have been for a little over a week). They can all see each other, but not touch.

I’m really nervous about putting them together because of a bantam/full-size mix, but I think it’s really important to get them together before anyone reaches sexual maturity. The bigs are a barred rock, golden-laced Wyandotte, and an EE. The littles, on the other hand are a mixed bag size-wise with a barnevelder, 2 silkies, and 1 seabright.

Any advice? Should I make a permanent “small” section in the coop? The Seabright is spunky, but sooo much smaller than the rest. I have multiple feeding and watering stations, but do they need to be completely out of sight from each other? Should I take one more step and separate them by something with larger holes, like a trellis, for a bit? Is drawing this out just making me crazier and I need to bite the bullet?

I do worry with the littles being the smaller/gentler breeds (aside from the barnevelder).

 

[Mrs. K]

How many birds do you have in each age group, how big is your set up? Space is crucial, and how you have that space set up can either help or hinder the whole process.

IMO, if chickens can see each other at the feed stations, it misses the point, that a lower bird can get enough to eat, out of sight of the other birds that are eating. As long as the big girls are eating, and can't see the others, they assume they are getting nothing. If they see them, they thing the littles are getting better feed.

I put a lot of clutter in my run. It allows birds to escape, to get out of sight and to just have space away from other birds. My advice is add hideouts, ladders, pallets, so that the line of sight is broken up, and put them all together.

Go down with a squirt gun, if someone gets in trouble, squirt the bully and break it up.

Another trick is to put the old birds, where the little birds are for a few days, so the littles can explore the bigger space.

Mrs k

 

[Paddlefoot]

Thanks, Mrs K! We have 7 total, 3 at 16 weeks and 4 at 12. I hadn’t seen a lot about integrating them all before they’re laying, but I read they’re more aggressive once they start. They are our first chickens, we’re very new to this. I guess that’s how we wound up with big girls and bantams

The coop is 8 x 16, so plenty of space for 7 birds, plus lots of spaces to go up or down, but not a lot to hide. I’ll add more ways for them to hide on a permanent basis since size will always be an issue.

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks, Mrs K! We have 7 total, 3 at 16 weeks and 4 at 12. I hadn’t seen a lot about integrating them all before they’re laying, but I read they’re more aggressive once they start. They are our first chickens, we’re very new to this. I guess that’s how we wound up with big girls and bantams

The coop is 8 x 16, so plenty of space for 7 birds, plus lots of spaces to go up or down, but not a lot to hide. I’ll add more ways for them to hide on a permanent basis since size will always be an issue.

What size is the run?
The combined size of the coop and run is important. You want as much space as possible when you open that door and let them co-mingle.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just don't put the littlest birds, in a strange place to them, and add the other birds at the same time. Imagine being placed a strange building and being chased by bad guys, or being placed in a place you have explored, know the exits, the good hiding, where the stairs are and then being chased. It would still be tough, but not all the advantage to the big birds. Don't think seeing a space and being IN a space is the same thing for chickens. They need to spend a couple of days in the big girl space without the big girls.

I either let and lock my big girls out, or put the big girls in the little girls space.

Mrs K

 

[Paddlefoot]

They free range on about a 1/3 of an acre when not in the coop, plus another 9x16 run the littles are currently using.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

When I integrated my flock, they spent a month being separated by a fence, so they'd have minor little pecking scruffles through the fence. I moved seven 16 week old pullets into the coop of 4 adult birds in the middle of the night that way they all wake up together. I made sure to open the pop door the second the sun peaked over the horizen. There were about 2-3 days of light scruffles to fully establish the pecking order, but it was about as smooth as could be all things considered.

 

[Paddlefoot]

@Mrs K Sometimes, But probably not enough, I free range the bigs and let the littles explore the full coop. I’ll need to give them some more time once I put more hiding places and stimuli in the coop. I was totally surprised how much of of a difference 4 weeks makes for these ladies.

 

[Paddlefoot]

@humblehillsfarm That gives me hope that I’m close enough once the littles get used to any coop additions to integrate them before anyone starts laying![/QUOTE]