Will they ever get along?

[BubbaLikesIt]

Back in April, I bought 10 chicks out of the "mixed pullet" bin from Tractor Supply. These chicks came from the Privett Hatchery in New Mexico and all of the chicks (2-GLW, 1-SLW, 1-BPR, 1-RIR, 2-BSL & 2 Mutts that look exactly alike) have turned out to be exceptional with 1 BPR Cockerel that we have since given away to a little farm just outside of town.
When they were 6 weeks old we decided that we had more than enough room for 14 chickens so we ordered 5 - 4 week old pullets (Cuckoo Marans) to give us a total of 14 chickens. We introduced the Marans to the coop inside of a wire dog kennel and they still took a little bit of a beating.
In 3 days everything seemed to calm down and the older chickens didn't pay much attention to them anymore so we let them out. That was ugly for a couple of days. Those Marans down right knew what it was to be French and not to be liked. The BPR pullet would peck them on the head so hard you could hear it in the house.
Now 4 weeks time has passed and they aren't killing them anymore and the Marans are nearly the same size but they still get harrased a little by the original 9 hens. The Marans always group together in the coop because there is safety in numbers I guess and I was wondering, will they ever just blend in with the original 9 hens or will they always be rejected?

 

[Oscarsgravett]

Don't worry they will eventually accept them, you will notice this as they will start to walk round with them longer every week. They just need to establish the pecking order first and this may take some time. You are In a good position though because you have plenty of them to even out the beating between them. The less you introduce the more they will suffer hope this helps

 

[BubbaLikesIt]

It has been looking like the beatings are coming to a stop but they still haven't grouped up and formed one unit yet. I guess the pecking order will have to work it's way out and then we'll have some continuity out in the coop.

 

[aart]

They'll meld eventually, maybe not until they start laying.
But the pecking order will always be in effect and often changes for no reason apparent to us humans.

 

[RonP]

There will always be a pecking order when you have numbers.

It's a chicken thing.

I introduce 2 or 3 new birds yearly to keep my eggs consistent and.
I do not cull the older birds, think "pets".

My 5 year old Buffs still take a feather or two from my 4 year old Reds, and three year old Rocks.

They are very predictable.
I watch and note who is getting too close, then WHAM, a feather is lost.

They don't chase each other, just let each other know respect.

 

[BubbaLikesIt]

It's been some time and the 5 Cuckoo Marans and the original 9 chickens haven't melded yet and now I know why. THE FRENCH CHICKENS ARE SNOBS!!! The Marans refuse to enter the group and form the "coop unit" we desire. Leave it up to the French to screw things up.