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[merlina]

I have, essentially, 2 flocks of chickens and am wondering how/if it's possible to integrate them better

 

Group 1 is four chooks who were here first and live in an ark

 

Group 2 is five hens who came with an eglu cube.

 

Group 1 has always FR for most of the day when I'm at home. Group 2 were confined to their run for 10 days and then allowed to FR with the others.

 

What's happened is the 2 groups run around with their original flock, they really don't integrate. When they do, the new flock tends to bully the original flock - nothing serious, although I've just seen 2 of the newbies jump on my poor araucana. Poor Poppy was so upset she allowed me to pick her up for the first time!

 

This has been going on for several weeks. Generally, they're fine in the garden running around in their own little groups.

 

But it was my hope that they would get along a little better and eventually all live in the cube (which has a 4m run, or will have when I put it all up!)

 

Is this realistic?

Any suggestions for how I can help them integrate better?

[Sandychick]

I think they are probably sticking to their seperate groups as they are sleeping in seperate areas. Bit difficult though as it doesn't sound like they would be happy together in the eglu cube and run just yet. 9 chickens in a 4m run wouldn't give them much space to escape from any pecking / bullying. Would it be possible to put them all in the cube at night, then let them out in the morning to FR (they should be quite calm together at night, but will probably not be so happy when they all wake up together in the morning). I think they might start to intergrate better then. I'm sure if they have all been out together for a while, it shouldn't take too long for them to become one big happy group The originals might just be envious of the new girls cube

[merlina]

Thanks Sandychick

I had thought of that

But they're waking up at 4.30 at the mo - and I'm not

If things haven't improved I shall try that when the mornings arrive a little later

 

I'd read so many stories on here of chooks randomly pootling off to sleep in each others' accommodation, that I was probably over-optimistic!