When to reintroduce broody hen and pullet to flock

[jpfenimore]

Hi! I have a red frizzle bantam who brooded a full-size hen 8 weeks ago (i.e., the chick is now 8-weeks old and feathered). In the past I have been able to easily reintroduce mom and her babies to my flock with little drama. Now have a 5ish month rooster, who joined our flock a few weeks ago. He's worked things out with the other hens and they all get along fine. But now when I try to reintroduce mom and baby, mom is getting a LOT of rooster-like attention from some of the other big hens (they are mounting her) as they try to re-establish the pecking order. Can my new mom take all this abuse? She also recently molted. Other than a lot of interest and chasing, they aren't really bothering the pullet, yet. Any advice? Mom and baby are in a 4'x4'x2' high enclosure so I'd like to get them out to be free sooner than later.

In the past I've had no problem mixing my full-size hens with my bantams.

Thank you!

 

[nchls school]

As long as the bullying doesn't get dangerously rough Id leave them with the flock with a lot of observation on your part.

 

[RUNuts]

I put mine in an area that resulted in see and no touch. But I don't have a rooster. After a week, I let them mingle and the hen took the babies into the coop. Done.

Is your enclosure where they can see each other and talk or separated?

 

[aart]

Water under the bridge now, but I'd have integrated the mama and chick about a week after hatch. Broody will have to reestablish her pecking order status, but those battles are usually short lived, especially if broody was in sight of flock during her 'confinement'.

Treat it as a single bird integration.
This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


Then there's the....
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.

 

[jpfenimore]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your input!