Two new batams with two old buffs

[Einhornjohnsonjt]

We have a tiny 12sq ft coop that has 4 nesting boxes stacked and one roost 18inches off the ground.
We have two older buffs in there and I have two bantams temporarily living in my shed. Will they all able to comfortably live together? They haven’t met yet but plan on doing an intro in the run tomorrow. The coop is technically large enough as is the run, but will they have enough space to be nice to each other? Currently both buffs sleep in their nesting boxes anyways so the batams can have the roost ((I’ve tried a lot of different remedies to get the buffs to roost but they just won’t budge. Oh well)

 

[featheredplanets]

Buff Orpingtons? 12sqft? That is a little small for 4 chickens. How big is your run? It all depends on flock dynamics, if they feel too squashed they’ll soon let you know by taking it out on each other, unfortunately.

 

[Einhornjohnsonjt]

Buff Orpingtons? 12sqft? That is a little small for 4 chickens. How big is your run? It all depends on flock dynamics, if they feel too squashed they’ll soon let you know by taking it out on each other, unfortunately.

Ah bummer. Yeah the run is 8ft x6 feet but they get to go anywhere all day, free range & come back at night without a problem. They’re really calm independent buffs, one doesn’t even lay anymore. They’re both old & were given to us freely for our border collie pup to learn to herd (which she safely does btw!)

 

[Einhornjohnsonjt]

Buff Orpingtons? 12sqft? That is a little small for 4 chickens. How big is your run? It all depends on flock dynamics, if they feel too squashed they’ll soon let you know by taking it out on each other, unfortunately.

 

[aart]

The coop is technically large enough as is the run, but will they have enough space to be nice to each other?

But integration is much easier with more space.

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/