Eyren Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi all This is one for those of you who have introduced new hens to your existing flock I'm trying to integrate two new bantams with my three resident bantams. Previously I've only tried two newbies with one existing hen (in each case following a death), and things went really smoothly. This time, though, there's a lot more aggression, and I want to get a feel for how long it might take... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can I have 10 days LOL? Seriously though, seems to be about 2 weeks. When we increased from 4 to 8 initially, it was nerve wracking and there wasn't huge difference in their ages. This time, increasing from 7 to 10, it has been just as nerve wracking. They arrived last Sunday pm. We kept them separated during the day in the run for 6 days, but started free ranging them together at 2 days .There has been quite lot of chasing, nipping and feather pulling, but only by the 'middle ranks'. We bed-hopped them on Thursday. Free ranged them all day together on Saturday, and then removed the run separator yesterday (Sunday). Still the middle ranks squabbled with the newbies but they seemed to settle down after egg-laying. Last night was the icing on the cake - they mixed and matched themselves at bedtime. So, we are almost there. In the end Eyren, ionce I realised no blood was being drawn I had to turn my back and let them sort it out - something I hated doing, but it has worked I am however very nervous about my Pekins who are arriving this Sunday. The intention has always been to integrate them, only after a very a long period of seperation in the run, but having watched Milly's behaviour, I'm not sure how they would fare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I would have ticked three weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I ticked one week to introduce 2 chickens to 2 others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 It's been about 3 weeks with me, every time - and they've been able to see (and peck ) the new ones through the mesh from 3 weeks until the adjoining run door gets opened at 10-12 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I would have ticked 3 weeks, but had to tick a month instead! I found introducing 2 small groups (2 to 4) was harder than introducing to a bigger group (3 to 7). Plenty of space seems to help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 My 2 newbies have just about cracked it. I think it depends on the age and boldness of the new birds too. Magpie has been accepted by Daffodil quicker than my Silver Nick, but the magpie was slightly bigger and more mature than the silver nick and I think Daffodil realised that. Magpie can get away with more whereas Daff is still occasionally pecking at Sylvie's feathers, but only over treats. It's taken nearly 3 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 Thanks for the replies so far - I now feel heartened to try for at least another two weeks or so. If things aren't improving after that, I will have to reassess the situation. The pekins are OK with the other two girls - Esme is almost as big in the body as the wyandotte, though of course a lot shorter - but Pepper is so much bigger than any of them (almost twice the size, though she's obviously not a full-sized breed either). redfrock, I would definitely go carefully with the pekins if I were you. Mine are such sweet-natured little girls, they've totally stolen our hearts The thought of anything happening to them is, well, unthinkable... They look so comical running round the garden in their fluffy bloomers, and Gytha makes an endearing honking noise, more like a duck than a chicken (though she's quite young, with a little pink comb, so maybe she will make proper hen noises when she's a bit bigger). She also flew up onto the living room windowsill this evening when it was time for bed, and tapped her beak on the window as if to demand entrance (the cats went barmy trying to get to her, but she seemed unfazed!). They are much more "pet-like" than other breeds of chicken, regardless of size - I can understand now why they are so popular! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 . I think it depends on the age and boldness of the new birds too. I agree, we introduced cochins at approx 13/14 weeks, cochins are reknowned for being submissive and mixing well with other dominant breeds so thats why i think it was quick for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 . I think it depends on the age and boldness of the new birds too. I agree, we introduced cochins at approx 13/14 weeks, cochins are reknowned for being submissive and mixing well with other dominant breeds so thats why i think it was quick for us Wow, that's really young! My new hybrids were about 17 weeks and as tall as the old girls before I attempted it. They're skinnier underneath their feathers though and they're still quite narrow between the legs (not laying yet, needless to say) - I think they may grow to be bigger than my remaining Omlet hen at this rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 . I think it depends on the age and boldness of the new birds too. I agree, we introduced cochins at approx 13/14 weeks, cochins are reknowned for being submissive and mixing well with other dominant breeds so thats why i think it was quick for us Wow, that's really young! My new hybrids were about 17 weeks and as tall as the old girls before I attempted it. They're skinnier underneath their feathers though and they're still quite narrow between the legs (not laying yet, needless to say) - I think they may grow to be bigger than my remaining Omlet hen at this rate. cochins are big girls even now they are a year younger than my oldest hen but they are almost twice the size!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 redfrock, I would definitely go carefully with the pekins if I were you. Mine are such sweet-natured little girls, they've totally stolen our hearts The thought of anything happening to them is, well, unthinkable... don't worry, our run is very big and therefore it is possible to have an area permanently seperated, instead of just temporarily. There will be plenty of room in both areas. The only thing is the pekins will be living a life of luxury having a cube just for the 3 of them! It may be I decide in time to add to the pekin family and so have 2 flocks rather than just one mixed flock. I have taken advice from our breeder, a truly knowledgeable man, and he says in time they will be able to mix, but I will never put them at any risk, and it will be many months before I even consider trying integration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 It's taken about three weeks but one of my Black Rocks Eggna just can't leave Cagney the cream legbar alone she pecks her and chases her about so much so that I neded up batting Eggna from one end of the run to the other at the weekend a bit of bullying in her direction seems to have calmed her a bit as she has not been so aggressive on Sunday and Monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 Your "dancing cockerel" avatar is very appropriate, then! I've been telling Pepper off, and now she's in the naughty cage - I'm sorely tempted to treat her to a good loud "cock-a-doodle-do!" to remind her who's really in charge! (My DH used to use a cockerel sound effect as a SMS alert on his phone until I complained that I kept thinking it was our girls!). A few days in solitary might knock the wind out of her sails a bit - fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
