Young Flock and Old Flock Sloooooooowly Integrating

[Luffpuff]

Hi folks!

My first flock of four shrunk down to two, so I got four chicks to beef back up the numbers. The chicks are fairly close to adult size now and have been outside with the other two girls for a few weeks. At first, they spend all of their time on complete opposite sides of the yard and slowly but surely have been getting closer and closer.

Now, during the lazy part of the day, they will all roost together, but on opposite sides of the roost (usually at least three feet between the two groups). The rest of the day they spend in two separate groups that are always about a foot or so apart. They never mix... but they are always in the same place in the yard roughly and the chicks are getting brave enough to try to start eating from the same feeder. They usually get chased away pretty quickly though.

At night, the chicks roost in the hen house and the chickens roost up in their favorite tree (the only predator pressure we have where I live is cats, and my chickens are bigger and meaner than them).

My question is this: How long did it take for your flocks to fully integrate? Does it take longer if they are not roosting in the same place?

Thanks!

 

[red horse ranch]

I have integrated a lot of chicks into my large flock. Most of the time when the pullets start to lay they will become part of the adult flock.
I will move pullets that I am keeping into the henhouse with all the adults but they will be in a separate pen inside the henhouse and not actually mingle with the older ones until 3 or 4 months old.

 

[Folly's place]

Yours are doing fine; it's normal for 'family groups' to stick together for a long time. Just enjoy the interactions!
Mary