Wanting more hens, grow out pen questions

[Mama Kay W]

I just remeasured the run and it's actually 4' X 21' so they have a bit more room to run around than I thought.
The pecking isn't too bad, no blood drawn and she can easily get up on the roosting bar in the run, she seems to be afraid of the 2 RIR. That was one of the reasons I was thinking of adding a few more pullets, maybe 3 more.

Gonna have to convince hubby I can add more to the flock, not having too good of luck just bringing this one back in without much problems

 

[mommyoftwo]

What are your plans for the run for winter? Coving the while thing (top and sides) in that window plastic will give the hens area to go in the winter and you could have 5 more chicken. Coop space matters most during rainy/snow weather when they could be cooped up all day. If they are space to escape it not so bad. It would give your xoop 3.5 sq ft per bird. Personal if I was you I would get rid of the older hens (by culling or given away) and get all new pullets. Then you will not have to worry about integration or mean RIRs.

 

[Mama Kay W]

The run is covered and hubby does put up plastic around the sides during winter, blocks the wind and snow. They do stay in the coop some times during the winter when it get's down in the minuses, they do have the pop door open so if they want to brave the cold they can.

I tried a trick a few days ago, I would put the meaner RIR in the coop and close it up for a few hours a day (kind of like a "time out" room) of course they all had access to food & water. I did this for a day & a half with the one and a few hours with the other and it really seemed to work,

now it is just a minor peck and nothing more than she did to them when she was top hen.
I have see her down on the ground a lot more with the others and she roosts on the bar out in the run together with them and at night they all cuddle together

And more good news, my RIR have started laying again

now three of them are, don't think the sick one will, now I just have to wait 2 weeks before I can start eating their eggs, since I recently wormed them

Still trying to convince hubby to let me get the other 3 new one's, he thinks it's going to cost $500 for adding a "grow out pen". basically we would add to the run so he would have to built a roof for it (average snow is 4-6 feet a year and sometimes up to 12 feet) the addition to the run would be permanent, just have to figure out about the "pen" til the pullets get old enough to add to the existing flock.