Integration of 2 groups

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Cliodhna

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Last night I decided that it was time to do the final integration of the clutches.

In one group I have 2 welsummers (aged 24 weeks) and a HUGE hybrid (21 weeks) (all hens), and in the other younger group, I have 5 hybrids (18 weeks), 1 male. They are all of similar size, except for the hybrid of the first group, who is about the same size as the cockerel.

They have been together through a wire fence for about 6 weeks, and last night I put them all in the big coop (plenty of room for all of them).

the last time I integrated it went really well (the first group was initially made up by integrating the welsummers and a clutch consisting of the hybrid and 2 speckled sussex who both turned out to be boys and so have since been rehomed.) There were a few spats to begin with but it went very smoothly.

Today isnt going so well. Rather than spats, there seems to be relentless bullying of the younger clutch, particularly of the cockerel. I've had to separate off one of the welsummers because she was just chasing them constantly and wouldnt let up even to eat or drink. (she can still see all the others through the wire, just cant get to them.)

I want them to find their position and leave things as much as possible but its difficult when the younger clutch are just hiding away frightened unless I am out there with them. They are being pecked every time they go near the other two, and are being cornered every now and then. I'm surprised the cockerel isnt fighting back, but he hasnt stood up for himself at all.

Oddly, the "top" chicken (the other welsummer) has started pulling the feathers out (and eating them) of the hybrid in her group, something I havent observed before. the hybrid seems to be letting her do it to begin with, and then when she pulls to hard runs away.

Its not through lack of space, they are free ranging and have half the garden.

Am I doing something wrong, should I separate them again and leave it for a couple of days or persevere and hope they sort it out? Should I put the other welsummer back in with the group straight away or leave her segregated for a bit longer (its been about 2 hours) No blood has been drawn anywhere and there hasnt been any proper fighting because the younger group are just running away scared.
 
Not able to give much advice on the cockerel, but be really careful of the feather eating. If they consume too many, could get an impacted crop and kill them. Sadly experienced this myself last year and lost a much loved favorite.
I'd advise you to put at least 5 points of food and water out so the dominant chicken can't cover all of them and maybe put in some large flowerpots or boxes so there are plenty of things to hide behind so the younger ones can hide in the open, giving less chance of being cornered. I would also think that the older birds would take the top spots in the pecking order as bigger and more confident. You may find that once the older birds know their place isn't threatened by the younger birds the bullying stops. You also need to open the door to the coop before the sun rises so the birds can escape early if they want to. Also be prepared to pop the ones that won't or can't get into the house into it nightly.
I introduced a single chicken to two last summer and there where a few serious fights. I may be wrong, but I'd say other than serious feather eating or drawing blood, leave them to get on with it under supervision.
 
I spoke to an experienced chicken keeper yesterday afternoon, who, on seeing the feather plucking, reckons its grooming, the "plucked" chicken is the biggest fluffiest chicken I have ever seen, she's big anyway but then her feathers are excessive too. She thinks that she has had a moult which isnt noticiable without inspection (she has new feathers coming through) and the "top" chicken is grooming her.
However, she advised to break it up when I see it so that it doesnt become habit forming. Again, there is no blood.

The slept in separate coops last night, and I've decided to mix them when I am around so that I can keep control, Good idea or am I just prolonging it?

I have swapped them over in terms of the coop they are in so that they get used to the other's smell.
 
I would make sure they all sleep in the same coop so they all get the same smell. Sleeping together helps them to regard themselves as a flock. If no blood is being shed it may be bets just to let them get on with it. Obviously the older hens are not impressed with the 'teenage boy,' who isn't mature enough yet to assume control. This is the best time of year to integrate them, it won't get any better by putting it off.
 
Well things are okay, no blood shed, the older hens are still being mean, but less frequently and in fact a couple of the younger hens are completely integrated and there is no pecking (the smallest in particular managed the older hens very well and doesnt get pecked at all). However... the cockerel seems to be bottom of the pecking order. As the younger hens find their place with the older hens, he seems to be more and more shunned by all of them.

I really wish he would stand up for himself and give the welsummers what for. He is huge, much bigger than they are, His hackles stand up and he looks as though he will stand up to them, and then he bottles it and runs away. He is, by far, the most picked on.
 
You need to reverse the situation Cliodhna, as we've had to do several times. Remove all the hens leaving the cockerel alone. Re-introduce the hens one at a time stating with the lowest in the pecking order. Allow the cockerel to establish himself with each introduction. Eventually ( and it may take a full day) the top hen at the last is introduced to an established flock and will simply fall into place behind the cockerel. Worked for us.
 
I think it may take longer than a day, Once I take the older hens away, he is fine with his clutchmates. as soon as I put one (and its the lowest of the three) back in, he turns into a big wuss and runs away from them. At the moment he is hiding on top of the hen house and has been there all morning. The two welsummers are separated off and there is just the hybrid in with him and his clutch mates. If the older hen goes anywhere near him he runs away, and she isnt being aggressive towards him.

Would it be better to keep him and the older hen in an enclosed pen rather than free ranging to make him confront her, or should I just leave them to it. I'm concerned that I have separated the hens again when they were starting to get used to each other.
 
I think he has lost confidence completely and will have to be kept separate until he has matured a lot Cliodhna. As you say the hens/ pullets need to stay together now and stabilise as a group. Perhaps in a few months (Spring) try to introduce him as above. The pullets may well have forgotten him by then.
 
So you think I should keep him separate rather than leave them together and hope for the best?
 
Not sure what you are trying to achieve with a cockerel Cliodhna. Have you got him for breeding or just as a colourful addition to the pen or as a pet?

Without separation and re-introduction he won't breed and will simply behave like a hen -we've seen this behaviour. This is assuming that is he isn't injured by the hens of course.
 
They are all just pets, I dont want to breed. I have been lucky enough to rehome my other cockerels and he is at the moment reasonably quiet (a bit of crowing around 8.30 most mornings but thats about it) I just want him to be happy really, because at the moment I dont have to get rid of him but I wouldnt want to keep him in an environment where he lives his whole life stressed. If he doesnt breed, well actually thats a bonus, as long as it wont affect him and his health.
 
He has been in a separate pen since you advised it, and seems happy enough. However, I've decided he may be happier somewhere that he can completely re-establish himself and so am going to contact my rescue lady to see whether she can take him.
 
Update: The hens are now getting along fine, almost as though they had always been together, no bullying and I havent seen anymore of the feather plucking either, the cockerel has been living separately and today goes to a new home.
 
You should separate the most wicked hens from the herd. Confine them somewhere. The feather eating can be cause by nutritional deficiency. It can also result when the diet is deficient in salt. What feed do you give them.

Try hanging greens for them.
 
They have layers and then have some sort of treat (greens or veg of some sort) just before bed. I cant see they have a deficiency as their main diet is the layers.
 
Have you resolve the issue? If not check if this link will be of help - http://www.extension.org/pages/66088/feather-pecking-and-cannibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks
 
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