Mixing flocks
Over the past week I have been bringing my new laying chicks outside and putting them into the run with my two year old hens. They were not happy about having them around but overall left them alone. After a week of exposure I brought them out first thing in the morning before I let the old birds out of the coop and let them see each other at feeding time. The hens were fairly calm a little pecking order dominance displayed at feeding time, as I would expect, and would walk away and let the chicks eat. Since this was a success, I next cooped them up together at night day one went well, protest from the hens in the form of being noisy but left the chicks alone. Releasing them in the morning had pecking order dominance but was smooth. That night the hens would chase the chicks off the ladder to to coop so I placed them in without protest from the hens. This morning will be morning two and expect the same as before so I would say I mixed the flocks fairly successfully. Hopefully this will help someone else mix flocks.
When I introduce new birds to the flock, I place them in a separate caged area within the run or pen. I do this first thing in the morning. The older birds will investigate and check out the new birds, but can't hurt them. At dark when the old birds roost I put the new birds in the coop. When morning comes and they all wake up together, it is usually quite peaceful and problem free.
I tried doing that with some young roos I was given but the peace didn't last long when they were in the run together. The roos are getting a little fattening up before they are getting butchered.
Our new chicks are about 1 month old now and soon will join the other chicken who is the only one left now as two stray hunting dogs came up here and shook and broke the necks of the other 2.
Lee has had a strange life the last few months, being the ONLY chicken. She follows us around like a dog and often spends time right at the doorstep, keeping safe.
I hope to keep the new chicks locked in the hen house for a few days while Lee will be free outside to sleep on her preferred ledge at the back of the house.
Then I will let the chicks out to the short run so they can meet each other but still be protected. We'll see how this goes...
I wish you all the luck on an easy introduction. My chickens are kind of the same my two layers will run up to me and as of late will misjudge distance and run into my legs. They like being around me but are not big on being handled.
Don't they remind you of dogs? Lee likes to be petted and will run over to me when I go outside and squat down so I can pet her from neck to tail. Then she fluffs out her feathers. Maybe she thinks I am a rooster. In winter we give her some scratch over near the heated water station so for a few days as the weather warmed and we stopped that treat she would run back and forth in front of us like a hunting dog, holding us near the water until she got her treat.
Mine are about the same they like a scratch when they squat down, which is a sign a hen is at laying age, then walk away and fluff up. The four roos I have are very timid and don't like contact but run close whenever they see me outside.
Scratch, I meant , is a mix of cracked grains. We don't use much as it isn't that good for them but they LIKE it.
It consists of wheat, corn, and oats. Now I give her black sunflower seeds or a banana coated in flax seed, bread ends (her fav) or veggie things from the house.
I know you meant scratch grains, mine like being scratched under their feathers. Mine just walk away when you pet them.
oh, sorry. I gently squeeze her neck and then slowly run my hand down her back. Her response is to fluff up and shake.