How to integrate pullets?

[LaceyJune]

Hey y'all!
In my flock I have five hens, but three of them are pullets I'm trying to integrate with my Silver Laced Sebright and Barred Rock hen. So, these pullets have been in a metal dog crate inside the coop for well over a month, and the space has been tight. Although, since the run is almost fully wired, I'm planning to fully integrate them then. Except when I let the three pullets forage, my Barred Rock hen always tries to go after them only when she is approaching them, grabbing a hold onto their feathers, which seemed a little over the top to me when trying to assert herself towards them, but ive never seen anything of this behavior before when helping inegrate my friend's batches of chicks once they became of age. No blood or wounds, but it's quite weird cause I recently noticed her pacing against their cage as well. I know with the run not being done probably causes her stress, but I try to let them interact as much as possible over the weekends. Overall, I just want my three pullets to get along with my other two hens harmoniously, so they can be one flock. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[sourland]

Give it time. What you are describing is very mild behavior. As long as it does not escalate, everything is right on track with their integration.

 

[LaceyJune]

Ok, thank you so much!
I just wasn't so sure about my Barred Rock's behavior towards them, but tbh chicks at this age are probably pretty dramatic when it comes down to just a single peck. All in all, my two hens need to assert themselves since their at a higher rank in the pecking order, so these pullets don't dominate over them in the long run, so it's understandable she's pushing herself towards them.

 

[Mrs. K]

Put the two big hens where you have the littles, and let the littles out in coop/run. Do that for a day or two. This is going to sound crazy - but being in a cage, the chicks have territorial rights to the cage, but not to coop/run. I swear, when the big girls see the chicks in the coop and run and the sky does not fall they seem to relax.

I think what is happening, BR is trying to make sure those chicks know THAT is their space and don't be getting any ideas.

Couple of other things, just let one of the big birds out, the least dominant bird, with the littles. Might be a bit of bluster, but should calm down, and after a couple of days add let the other one out too.

Pin less peepers can also help with this.

Mrs K

 

[LaceyJune]

Oh okay. Thank you for the idea, I will definitely be trying this! I never heard of this strategy, but I think it will definitely do some good for my BR, especially when you reverse their places in the hen house.