when will pullets "join" flock?

[redstarchick]

Ok so im new. I've only been chicken keeping 4 months. So I'm curious has anyone else had this problem its worriesome maily because ill be adding more to coop in august.
I have 5 red star hens (2 years), 1RIR roo (adult) and just added 2 americana pullets two weeks ago. They were 12weeks old at that time. They Had stopped cheeping like chicks and were making big girl clucking sounds.
No fights no blood.
Multi water stations and feed available.
They all sleep in coop at night together in nesting boxes. They lay eggs in seperate clean box with dummy eggs. They didnt like the branches my husband put in for them to roost.
They then free range in morning. 8am -8pm The adults go out like normal. However the pullets stay in coop, only venturing out in evening and not to far.
When I throw in treats the Americana pullets are smart enough to grab a bite and run away from the adults. So....
My question is are they to young to want to flock with the others?
(they are almost the same size)
Did I do something wrong intergrading?
They were kept in a dog cage for 5 weeks after I got them maybe not used to freedom?

I have four 6 week old chicks I'll add later in summer. I don't really want 3 seperate flocks lol.
I probably shouldn't worry but this is my first year. Probably just chicken drama. I wondered if they stayed away because the rooster would jump them?
Ps. Too young to lay only 14 weeks old.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is not uncommon to have subflocks within a flock. In my experience, very cold weather gets rid of this. You are not nearly so picky who is by you, when they are warm, seems to be the attitude. By that time, they will be older too.

Younger birds are submissive and beneath older birds on the pecking order. Time will take care of it.
As long as you have enough space, these problems should sort themselves out. I mention space, because if I have the count right, you are doubling the size of your flock. Too many birds in a coop can cause a lot of problems.

I add new birds each year to my flock, but I take birds out too, that is the hard part. Depending on your set up will determine how many birds can be there. In the summer, you can cheat a bit, but in the winter, birds will spend close to 14 hours per day roosted up in the dark. They need space then.

Measure your coop, it should have about 4 square feet in the coop per bird. So with 12 birds, you need a coop of 48 sq ft, 6 ft x 8ft, or something close.

Mrs K

 

[Amina]

In my experience, it takes a couple months to really join the main flock. And once they start laying eggs, they will suddenly integrate a whole lot more. I think you'll be fine, but I would work on training them where to roost. Go out every night around dark and put them on a proper roost. Sleeping in the nest boxes is a bad habit.

 

[redstarchick]

Thank you for the responses. Mrs K. My coop is 2 sections joined. One section measures 11×9 with a 5ft height the other is 6×9 with 7 ft height.
*Amina I have a mean roo so i dont venture into coop at night hes on gaurd. my girls aren't used to being held (we got them as adults).
To compensate this I have a large seperate box for laying, with a curtain and dummy eggs seems to do the trick. I get Clean eggs.
My chicks that are seperate all roost on the branches.

 

[Mrs. K]

yes, you have enough room, and I am drooling with envy.... I have an old coop, it works just fine for my set up... I REALLY do not need more chickens for my needs.... but

 

[lazy gardener]

It's not too early to integrate your 6 week old chicks. I integrated my chicks over a week ago. They were 9 weeks, and 5.5 weeks old. The youngsters were integrated at 2.5 and 6 weeks old after seeing each other through fence for a while. Then, I integrated all of the youngsters with the main flock by letting them range in a smaller fenced area within the larger fenced area for the adult flock. I cut some holes in the fence, so the littles could come and go into the big run. My roo was delighted to have some babies to take care of! If your flock is not happy with the branches you've put up for roosts, you might try replacing them with 2 x 4's laid on the flat side. Chickens seem to prefer wider perches, and will especially appreciate them when the weather gets cold.

 

[redstarchick]

Thank you. I'm thinking about adding some polesort in roosting area. I suspect that our nests are just to high so there sleeping there.
I would worry about integrating the 7 week old chicks the red stars are awful Peck with newbies.
Haha 2 attacked the rooster within minutes of meeting g him and he's huge.
I also inherited an old coop with our property. My husband constructed a 2nd roo. Out of an old camper shell trailer lol. Didn't cost a thing but sweat. plenty of space