when to put two sets of chickens together in one coop

[farmert]

My flock has been reduced to three red sex link hens and one giant Amer. rooster who get along. One of the hens is small and molting; another is very small and the third is pretty normal. These have all been in in the main coop.

About four weeks ago I rescued two very large RIRs, one is a bully and whenever all the hens are together, the one molting and the other small really get picked on-- so much so that they run away.

The two RIR have been in a separate coop at night, but I'd like to get them all together before it gets really cold. I'm concerned about them all being in the same main coop together before I let them out in the run in the morning. The main coop would normally house more than six chickens easily, but I'm concerned about that with the two newbies picking on the small ones while still in the coop.

Suggestions please on what to do. The hen who is molting is really scared of the big girls and I don't want her to undergo anymore stress than she already is. Suggestions please on what to do.

 

[Mrs. K]

Pull the worst bully, keep her confined. See if you can get the other one to work into the flock. That's one idea. Sometimes, you have a real mean bird, and the other will follow her lead. Pull her out, and get the rest of the flock to settle.

The other idea, is to pull the two victims. The thing is if you pull these, I am thinking you will need to keep them separated for the winter. But they won't be killed.

Do know, that birds keep themselves warm, it is not shared heat. If they are out of the wind, with good ventilation, they will weather dang cold weather. Think of being at a football game, your coat does nothing to keep your neighbor warm. You tend to huddle together, but that is to block the wind.

Pin less peepers can help.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188317...KOcKnprAAYW_-uf5RhswZeMjIcEWzFFhoCmLUQAvD_BwE

Put them on the tow RIR's. These have helped a lot of small flocks work out the aggression.

Truthfully, I would not expect this to work out. RIR's can be very aggressive, and once they have their bluff in, it can be quite hard to break that.

IMO taking on birds you feel sorry for, never seems to work out. Ugh! I hate a flock full of strife.

Mrs K