Integration into a very small flock

CalgaryFarmer

Songster
10 Years
Oct 13, 2014
409
134
196
Just outside Calgary, Alberta
I have a very small flock, 1 rooster and 1 hen, who are a year old. I started with 32 chicks last year and through sales of laying hens, sales of trios and roosters on the rotisserie, I am down to the 2.

I also recently hatched 13, who are now between 9 and 12 weeks old. I am trying to do some supervised integration, about an hour a day, and some see but don't touch integration. Otherwise, they are in separate coops and runs. With the supervised integration, I let the older ones into the young ones’ run.

As you can guess, the lonely pair are attacking the young ones during the supervised integration. Nothing serious, just a few runs and chomps and pulling out feathers. I separate them if it is more than a couple of skirmishes.

It is early on, so I expect it will get better, but you would think the 2 of them would like some mates. If a new laying hen just showed up out of the blue, I assume the rooster would welcome her.

As well, I was not paying attention as to whether the rooster was going after just the cockerels and if the hen was just going after the pullets, seeing them as competition.
 
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Photos. The hen does look a bit cross.


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I'd stick strictly to see but no touch for a longer period, 1-2 weeks, and for all day, before I'd start letting them interact.

That said, a bit of feather pulling isn't too bad, as long as they're not continuously going after the younger birds to where they can't eat or drink or are attacking to the point of injury.
 

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