will they stay 2 seperate flocks?

[chicks n dogs]

I posted before about several of my gals turning into guys. In prep for removing them we have gotten 4 new ladies. Ranging 6-8 weeks. Well, the first few days were full of pecking but no blood. Now, they act as 2 fully different flocks. The old group and the new group. They trade coop time, they trade run time, old gals roost, new gals nest box. Anything I can do to integrate them more or will time take its course?
Also I have 1 of the newbies that was a rescue. She was hen pecked to the point of nakedness. She really has only her wings and head feathers left. She has done well so far but I am worried. The weather dives at night so I have been bringing her in when the others bed down. Should I leave her or continue on bringing her in? How long until she grows some filler feathers in?
I am so new to this I appreciate all of the help!!!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m guessing that “Ranging 6-8 weeks” means they are 6 to 8 weeks old. It’s normal for groups of chicks, whether broody or brooder raised, to stay away from the adults until they mature. It’s a pecking order thing. Mature hens will often peck any immature chick that invades their private space. The immature birds learn to keep their distance. When they mature enough to make their way in the pecking order, this behavior stops. They will probably merge with your older hens then. With mine, that is usually around 20 weeks, but sometimes it can go quite a bit longer.

I’ve never had one pecked naked like that. You’ll have to use your own judgment about bringing her in. I just don’t have any experience with that and I don’t know your weather or set-up.

If the feathers are totally gone, they should start growing back in pretty soon. If part of the shaft is left in there, they won’t grow back until the chick molts. If they really are 6 to 8 weeks old, that should not be too long. Chicks go through two molts while they are growing, the first usually somewhere around 8 to 9 weeks. They simply outgrow their feathers and have to replace them.

 

[chicks n dogs]

Yes, 6-8 week age range. The pecking order makes perfect sense. Especially since the younger girls seem to prefer to just stay inside the coop.
As for the naked lady I do think bringing her in is best for now. She is a very timid gal after her debacle at the farm where we got her. There is pecking from my gals but nothing excessive or that has drawn blood.
Thank you for the help!!!

 

[centrarchid]

To add another dimension, I will suggest that even if birds are similar in every aspect such as age, size, sex and breed they will remain within separate groups they were raised with. I can take to a large batch of eggs split them into two groups, incubate and brood them separately and then release them into a free-range setting and the groups will remain separate. They know each other as individuals and it is very much a function of voice. Sometimes they will even adopt discrete territotories / home ranges. This breaks down when number of chicks per group exceeds 20 or so.

 

[Ridgerunner]

To add another dimension, I will suggest that even if birds are similar in every aspect such as age, size, sex and breed they will remain within separate groups they were raised with. I can take to a large batch of eggs split them into two groups, incubate and brood them separately and then release them into a free-range setting and the groups will remain separate.   They know each other as individuals and it is very much a function of voice.  Sometimes they will even adopt discrete territotories / home ranges.  This breaks down when number of chicks per group exceeds 20 or so.

I've pretty much observed the same thing, but it also breaks down if the two separate flocks are pretty small. As you say, free range and the ability to adopt discrete territories, including separate coops or sleeping and even separate egg laying areas all play a part. When I have observed them staying separate flocks with separate territories, multiple roosters have been involved too. I don't know if your separate flocks involve roosters?

I've also noticed that if I have two separate flocks and greatly disrupt the pecking order in them, say by processing several birds, they tend to merge at that time of stress. Each flock has its own dynamics and those can change.

From the OP's post, I took it that they are generally in runs and coops, not free ranging, and I made the assumption that the total flock size is not that large. That's why I think these particular birds will eventually merge. But not until they can hold their iwn in the pecking order.

 

[centrarchid]

I've pretty much observed the same thing, but it also breaks down if the two separate flocks are pretty small. As you say, free range and the ability to adopt discrete territories, including separate coops or sleeping and even separate egg laying areas all play a part. When I have observed them staying separate flocks with separate territories, multiple roosters have been involved too. I don't know if your separate flocks involve roosters?
I've also noticed that if I have two separate flocks and greatly disrupt the pecking order in them, say by processing several birds, they tend to merge at that time of stress. Each flock has its own dynamics and those can change.
From the OP's post, I took it that they are generally in runs and coops, not free ranging, and I made the assumption that the total flock size is not that large. That's why I think these particular birds will eventually merge. But not until they can hold their iwn in the pecking order.

Mine did involve cockerols and pullets. They were reared free-range starting at 5 weeks. Mine would go into same cover patch when stressed but when threat gone they quickly seperated. The groups would actually fight in what appeared to have a level of organization. Members of one group would give the threatening "chuckle sound" as approaching members of another group and then chase targets away.