Question about adding pullets to existing coop.

[Sinadrea]

I have had 5 10 wk old pullets in an outside pen for 3 to 4 weeks and they are allowed to free range with the adults. There are three 1.5 year old hens and a rooster who share the main coop. All chicks are larger than my Polish and Prairie Bluebell Egger hens, so half of the preexisting flock.

The pullets seem fine with the hens but they avoid them unless they see me or my husband outside. The head hen is the biggest and ignores them. The smaller hens will peck at them when they're nearby. The pullets are still skittish around the rooster because he will also chase them away if there are extra treats around.

I don't have much room to put a cage inside the coop at this time. Should I force them in the adult coop overnight or will they go when they're ready?

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I have had 5 10 wk old pullets in an outside pen for 3 to 4 weeks and they are allowed to free range with the adults. There are three 1.5 year old hens and a rooster who share the main coop. All chicks are larger than my Polish and Prairie Bluebell Egger hens, so half of the preexisting flock.

The pullets seem fine with the hens but they avoid them unless they see me or my husband outside. The head hen is the biggest and ignores them. The smaller hens will peck at them when they're nearby. The pullets are still skittish around the rooster because he will also chase them away if there are extra treats around.

I don't have much room to put a cage inside the coop at this time. Should I force them in the adult coop overnight or will they go when they're ready?

For my chickens, my head hen takes the longest to treat mine right. So i brood outside starting at 2 -3 weeks depending on weather. They are see no touch for about 3 weeks. Then in the run with the adults under supervision. Then i show them how to go into the coop for a few days then they decide whether they are ready to go in or not.
My cockerels/pullets i have right now claimed their spot on the roost faster than the older pullets

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot depends on the coop space and set up. If you do nothing, one day you will go down, and a couple of the pullets will have gotten brave enough to roost with the big girls. Then close up where you have the chicks sleeping now, and check at night for a couple of nights.

If you want them in before that, you really do not need to lock them in a crate for their protection, all you need to do is give them a space where they are out of sight. A large piece of cardboard and some duct tape will be easy to manage. If they are roosting, a lower roost out of reach. Put them in for a few nights, into the safety zone and in two or three days, they will be there themselves.

Mrs K

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have much room to put a cage inside the coop at this time.

This worries me. How big, in feet or meters, is your main coop? Can you post a photo of how it is laid out inside? Before I can answer any specific questions I'd need to know what you are working with.

My young pullets quickly learn to avoid the adults. If they enter the adults' personal space they are likely to get pecked if not chased. They need room to avoid the adults. With yours free ranging they have that room during the day. At night might be a problem. There can always be exceptions but typically my pullets do not sleep on the main roosts with the adults until they start to lay. Once they start to lay they are accepted into the adult pecking order so yours have a way to go.

Mine are raised in the main coop with the adults so they grow up with the flock. If the main coop isn't too crowded they can find safe places to sleep in there once I let them out of the brooder.

But when it gets crowded I move some out to my grow-out coop when they come out of the brooder and train them to sleep there. This is closer to your situation. They are isolate across wire from the others. Once they have learned to sleep in the grow-out coop I let them roam with the adults during the day but sleep separately at night.

Once I've reduced the numbers (by eating some of the cockerels) and they have proven to me that they can roam during the day with the adults I move them back into the main coop by tossing them in after dark. Then I'm down there at daybreak to see how it is going. Usually I find that the pullets are on the roosts avoiding the adults on the coop floor. After seeing this a couple of days I feel OK sleeping in. It is a pretty easy integration.

I don't know if you have enough room in your coop for the chicks to avoid the adults. I don't know if your roosts are high enough that the chicks can avoid the adults on the floor by flying up there.

I can't give specific suggestions without knowing what you are working with. This can be extremely easy. It can be difficult. But there are techniques that you can use when room is tight.

Good luck!

 

[Sinadrea]

Thank you

This worries me. How big, in feet or meters, is your main coop? Can you post a photo of how it is laid out inside? Before I can answer any specific questions I'd need to know what you are working with.

Over ez large coop and the run.
Dimensions
74"L x 60"W x 72.5"H
The run is always open because I feel like its too small. Its about 6 x 8 ft.
As you can see, the rooster is usually stalking me.

 

[Sinadrea]

For my chickens, my head hen takes the longest to treat mine right. So i brood outside starting at 2 -3 weeks depending on weather. They are see no touch for about 3 weeks. Then in the run with the adults under supervision. Then i show them how to go into the coop for a few days then they decide whether they are ready to go in or not.
My cockerels/pullets i have right now claimed their spot on the roost faster than the older pullets

Thanks, I started putting them out later but am trying to lure them in with berries now! Will keep trying until they're more comfortable.

 

[Sinadrea]

A lot depends on the coop space and set up. If you do nothing, one day you will go down, and a couple of the pullets will have gotten brave enough to roost with the big girls. Then close up where you have the chicks sleeping now, and check at night for a couple of nights.

If you want them in before that, you really do not need to lock them in a crate for their protection, all you need to do is give them a space where they are out of sight. A large piece of cardboard and some duct tape will be easy to manage. If they are roosting, a lower roost out of reach. Put them in for a few nights, into the safety zone and in two or three days, they will be there themselves.

Mrs K

Thank you, i guess if weather permits I will let them get braver, if not? I will try cardboard.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't see any clear space where the chicks can sleep and avoid the adults. That is a fairly small coop for integrating your birds. I'd suggest going slowly and maybe try to create a place where you can separate them. Maybe by putting that cardboard across the roosts so they can't see from one end to the other.

Good luck!

 

[aart]

Maybe by putting that cardboard across the roosts so they can't see from one end to the other.

I think @azygous has a good pic of this type arrangement.

 

[azygous]