Trouble integrating

[DobieLover]

Actually cockerels tend to mature a month or 2 before the pullets do, I put first 2 days eggs from 2 hens that were just starting to lay 3 were infertile but the 1 did hatch a chick that was tiny due to egg size but once outta the egg she caught up quite quickly to the others from the older hens.

Sexually mature, yes.
Personality mature, no.
There is more involved with a cohesive integration of new flock members.

 

[Jkchicks19]

It was better after my pullets started laying, however it took another couple of weeks before the hens would let the pullets in the nest boxes so I was finding eggs on the floor in a tight corner. But they're all OK now.

So there is hope! That’s what I was looking for. I really don’t want to give my little ones away...so I’ll continue to be patient and hope for the best...Thankyou so much!!

 

[Jkchicks19]

It's really just a matter of semantics but in your case it is quite applicable. Your hens are not hens, they are pullets. Your roo is not a roo, he is a cockerel. When the hormones hit and everyone begins to sexually mature, things change pretty dramatically. When they fully mature and become hens and a rooster at one year old, behaviors and personalities have usually settled into place. With the exception of the rooster. They usually come into their final personality by the time they're two years old.

I have one more question. So I need to put my hen that’s in “time out” back with the other ones. Does it matter if I put her back in the run at first..or should they all be free ranging? I’m thinking in the run..so the younger ones are already in there. This way maybe she thinks she is lower in pecking order. I have no idea!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have one more question. So I need to put my hen that’s in “time out” back with the other ones. Does it matter if I put her back in the run at first..or should they all be free ranging? I’m thinking in the run..so the younger ones are already in there. This way maybe she thinks she is lower in pecking order. I have no idea!

I'd try it free ranging. Give them more room to get away if there are issues. More immature pullets almost never fight back, they know they are going to lose so they try to run away. If they don't have room to run it can get bad quickly.

One way chickens have worked out to reduce conflict is that the weaker runs away from the stronger. It doesn't always work and there may be some chasing, but it usually does. If a weaker one can't get away the stronger does not recognize it has won and keeps attacking. If the weaker gets trapped by a fence it hunkers down and tries to protect its head. The stronger goes for the head because that is where it can do the most damage. You can wind up with dead chickens that way. That's why room is so important.

 

[Jkchicks19]

I'd try it free ranging. Give them more room to get away if there are issues. More immature pullets almost never fight back, they know they are going to lose so they try to run away. If they don't have room to run it can get bad quickly.

One way chickens have worked out to reduce conflict is that the weaker runs away from the stronger. It doesn't always work and there may be some chasing, but it usually does. If a weaker one can't get away the stronger does not recognize it has won and keeps attacking. If the weaker gets trapped by a fence it hunkers down and tries to protect its head. The stronger goes for the head because that is where it can do the most damage. You can wind up with dead chickens that way. That's why room is so important.

Thankyou...I knew room was important but didn’t realize HOW important fir integrating new chickens. I wasn’t sure if maybe the eggers and Brahma were just such a docile breed that maybe getting them was a mistake. I’ve read that the lorps and barred rock were friendly breeds too...ofcourse I didn’t think of how they might be with other chickens! I’m definatly learning as I go!!

 

[aart]

(can't judge a book by it's cover)
You can't judge a chicken by it's breed.
They all can be vicious.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I wasn’t sure if maybe the eggers and Brahma were just such a docile breed that maybe getting them was a mistake. I’ve read that the lorps and barred rock were friendly breeds too...ofcourse I didn’t think of how they might be with other chickens!

I agree with Aart. Or any breed can be good. Any breed can be brutal to chickens of different breeds or chickens of the same breed or they may get along with any breed.

Each chicken is an individual and may be good or bad.