Why is integration so stressful!?!

[annampet]

For me...LOL....the chicks seem to be doing fine but every time our one older pullet goes after the 5 week olds I cringe!

Flock: 1 older pullet about 10 months, 6 chicks at 5 weeks.

We've had a few 10 min to 1 hour integrations but today is the first full day. The 2 buff's are being picked on the worst for some reason. No blood but I'm sure a little fluff has been pulled out. They have two feeders, two water areas and two hiding places.

I was thinking about leaving them locked in the coop together tonight but I may just bring them in. I think it will be pure chaos in the morning if they wake up together. It's a tiny coop, they would need to go straight out to the run and fenced area I've created for them.

 

[Wezdin]

Have they had any "see but dont touch time? this can be useful for them to get used to each other and ease the integration process.

 

[Evelyn Walker]

I would NOT suggest leaving them unattended in in the coop if it looks like they're still really being picked on (they also are a bit young for integration, I usually do mine at 8-10 weeks). Although it's only one hen, if things get out of hand in there (if blood is drawn, for example), you won't be there to stop it. Only leave them together alone after several weeks of peaceful mingling.

 

[annampet]

Have they had any "see but dont touch time? this can be useful for them to get used to each other and ease the integration process.

They have. We've been doing see/no touch for the last two week.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was thinking about leaving them locked in the coop together tonight but I may just bring them in. I think it will be pure chaos in the morning if they wake up together. It's a tiny coop, they would need to go straight out to the run and fenced area I've created for them.

In your situation I would not keep them cooped together overnight. Ideally I'd suggest making a small enclosure inside the coop, so the chicks can be in there without any risk of attack, but that's not feasible with a "tiny" set up. Is the coop realistically big enough for all the birds, or are you working on a new one or expanding it...?

 

[aart]

they also are a bit young for integration, I usually do mine at 8-10 weeks

It's often much easier to integrate chicks young....many of us have gone this way.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still have to follow the basic integration tricks.....
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.

 

[annampet]

In your situation I would not keep them cooped together overnight. Ideally I'd suggest making a small enclosure inside the coop, so the chicks can be in there without any risk of attack, but that's not feasible with a "tiny" set up. Is the coop realistically big enough for all the birds, or are you working on a new one or expanding it...?

We're working on moving our coop so we have the older pullet in a basic TSC coop. We decided to wait until we get the larger coop moved to put them out full time together, in a see/no touch fashion until the chicks are a little larger.