Adding five pullets to smaller flock

[dskowron]

I have a small flock now which consists of three hens and a roo. The hens are two easter-eggers and a gold-laced wyandotte. The roo is an Ayam Cemani mix - his father was that and his mother was some unknown backyard breed. He's very mellow and we really lucked into getting him. Anyway, we now have five pullets which we are going to add to this flock. They are all Black Australorpes (sp?) and that breed is (supposedly) also very mellow. The pullets are now 5-6 weeks old. I'm brooding them in a large 6'x2' stock tank. I plan on adding them after another three or so weeks. In that time I am going to introduce the pullets to the outdoors first to get them used to seeing something other than the sides of the brooder, then after a couple days I will start introducing them to the rest of the flock. I have a carrying cage for them and a small corral to put them in out in the chicken run. The other chickens can see them and touch beaks but nothing else.

I'm wondering how the three older hens are going to react to having five new hens added. I think the roo will be delighted. I'm apprehensive about this move and hope things go somewhat as planned. Once I release the five into the flock for real, they have to figure out the roosting situation and the food and water. I'm sure the other chickens will sort of show them those things during their daily routine. It's that first night in the coop that worries me.


The flock as it is now:

The pullets:

This shot shows the "cave" I made for them from some hay and old fence pickets. They just love it in there. In the summer when it's hot, I wet it down with the hose and it keeps them cool and they can peck at it and eat the bugs. It also gives them a place to get out of the wind and snow in the winter. Our run is huge - about 2500 square feet. There are junipers for them to hide under also.

 

[DobieLover]

There is no reason whatsoever not to get them outside right now. Do you have a predator shelter that the pullets can use while out in their section of the run?
After a week of them being exposed to the older flock you can let them intermingle.
It is not uncommon for the rooster to facilitate integration. Part of his job is to keep drama between his hands to a minimum. I would add more clutter to your run. Lots of places to perch on, hide behind, and just hang out. And if you don't already have it, set up a few more places to spread feed. I just have flat stones dotted around my run that I can put little piles of food on so they can play musical feeding stations.

 

[dskowron]

The main reason I don't put them out now is the weather. It still dips well below freezing at night and we have such high winds right now the little pullets couldn't handle it. I do have a place they can shelter when I set up their corral. And there are plenty of hiding places. You don't see my entire run in that picture. It is 80 feet long and around 28 feet wide with four big junipers and a blue spruce, all with low-hanging limbs.

I kind of figured the roo would help out in the integration. He's very attentive to his hens.