How do you join two flocks of chickens?

Question

I have 11 chickens that are 3 months old and 5 chickens that are 1.5 years old. I have not been able to put them together because the older ones aggressively ATTACK the young ones. When the little ones were just one month old the older ones attached and drew some serious blood on the little ones. Two of them had grew-some injuries. It was awful. The older ones are fine alone and the younger ones are fine alone... so I kept them separated, thinking that when the little ones get older they might be able to defend them selves or at least get away. Well, I tried putting one of the older ones in the outside run with the young ones, and same thing... bang, the older hen goes aggressive after the young ones... pecking hard and pulling feathers. At least this time there was no cuts or blood! I quickly separated them.

I have them in the same coop separate by chicken wire, so they could get used to each other for about 1 month now. Each time I put one of the older ones in with the younger ones it is lots of trouble. I can't put them together in the coop or the outside run.

Oh yea, the older ones are comprise of 4 hens and 1 rooster. The younger ones are all hens (I think!)

How can I get the older ones to stop attacking the younger ones? Help!

Answer 1

You need to wait until they are 5 months old to introduce them to oneanother. They are way too young and can be killed. When they reach thatr age then you can introduce them. What you got now, them in the same coop and separated is great.

Now, when you introduce them. Instead of placing the newer chicks in on the side with the older ones, go tot he side with your older chcikens, get the rooster first and place him in the side with the chciks. He may attack them for a while its normal. Or he may try to mate. Then put one hen, then another, and just put one in one at a time. I like to put up a fencedin area that is outside the pen/coop and put the young chcikens in it and them one at a time place the older one in. It doesnt matter though. Usually they are calmer in different place. It may take a couple days or a couple weeks for them to get use to oneanother. Keep yur eye on htem and if someone stsarts to bleed get the one peking at the bleeding one and separate it from the flock and pen it by itself. Usually after a while the chcik that was picked on will be dominant over that one that hurt it. Sometimes that happens.

Make sure that you have no roosters as the older rooster can kill the younger ones. If you hear crowning or its mating with one than thats a roo.

Answer 2

at three months old it is still far to early to put the younger ones in with the older ones permanently.

I would wait until they are at least 6 months old.

you seem to be doing a good job however as a starting point

(separating with wire)

the reason the older one attack is because the are the dominant ones and are in charge .

and in chicken society there is a pecking order

with either a hen or the rooster dominant and the younger the chickens are the lower they are and will get literally pecked into place but Thieu often causes stress and blood (like you have seen) if done to early because the little ones still can't fight back and defend themselves

the only time the little ones are cherished by the flock is if the mummy hen is a member of the older flock. .  in that situation the rooster will mind them and they will be safe.

that's my situation at the moment they grew up with the flock and have now successfully joined them (they are 4 months old) and are still doted on by daddy rooster and the other hens. (most of them) and they still hang around with their mum but are getting very independent.

But in your case it will just take time like everything I'm afraid.

all you can do is keep them separated until they are older and do little introduction sessions like you have been doing

and do it as often as possibile so they'll get to know each other and develop a pecking order.

(there will be a few squabbles along the way) but aslong as no blood is lost things will be OK.

also the young ones at three months old should still be on chick-crumbs or chick starter

(they don't go onto adult food until they are 6 months old)

so them joining the older ones now would be awkward

But hopefully things will all work out soon.

just take your time and have little sessions every day or so.

btw it is a good idea to make sure the dominant hens or rooster is one of the first to meet the chicks as she/he is boss and will be in charge and the other hens will follw suit with the newcomers. and you will have one big happy flock.