Bringing new chicks home can be nerve-racking, but it's especially so if you already have a flock. The old girls are set in their ways, know where they belong, and follow a routine. Throw in a new batch of chicks, and everything falls apart. Fights can erupt, and blood is frequently shed. While some pecking and fighting are unavoidable when integrating baby chickens, understanding flock dynamics and going slowly will help you avoid at least some chicken battles.
I know someone who takes a rather aggressive approach when introducing new young hens to the older ones. He simply throws them all together and lets them fight until they establish a pecking order, which can take quite some time. However, this method often results in injuries and a lot of bloodshed. I prefer a more gradual and peaceful approach to minimize conflict and reduce stress.
If you don't have a broody hen to care for and protect the baby chicks, keeping them separate in their designated space for the initial few weeks is best. Once the weather is warm enough for them to venture outside, I like to bring the chicks near the older hens' enclosed area. This allows them to observe each other through the safety of the fencing. It's an essential first interaction between the two groups, and it's also delightful to watch the chicks experience walking on grass for the very first time.
The older hens may naturally show curiosity and feel somewhat threatened by the presence of the new chicks. They might walk back and forth and make loud noises, as a way of asserting dominance over the young ones. It's important to give them the chance to be in each other's presence, but safely separated, so that the older hens can observe the new chicks and feel less threatened by their arrival.
Separate Enclosures
When the chicks are around 4 to 6 weeks old and have grown feathers, they can regulate their body temperature better. If the weather permits, I will place them in an outdoor "playpen." This temporary enclosure will be situated right next to the larger chicken run. This gradual introduction process allows the new and existing flocks to become acquainted with each other. Every morning, I will place the chicks in the outdoor temporary run and let them spend the day next to their future home.
Initially, the older hens may protect their territory by keeping watch over the unfamiliar newcomers. However, with regular exposure over a couple of weeks, they will become accustomed to their presence and resume their usual activities. To familiarize both the new and old flocks with each other, I allow my new chicks to play outside in a temporary pen for approximately two weeks. It's important to note that the pen is not predator-proof, so in the evenings, I move them to the garage in their brooder pen.
Is this process labor-intensive? Yes, it requires considerable effort. However, considering past failed attempts at integration, the additional work is worthwhile.
Moving day
On the day of integration, there is much debate about the appropriate age for chicks to join an existing flock. Should they be integrated while they are smaller, thus appearing less threatening, or should integration occur when they are bigger and on more equal footing with the older hens?
The new chicks must be sufficiently large to defend themselves against the older hens, as an overly aggressive hen could potentially peck them to death. I made the mistake of integrating too early and regretted it. Now, I wait until the new chicks reach a similar size as the older hens. By this time, they will have spent some time in their temporary run, and the established flock will have become accustomed to their presence.
Once the new chicks have grown enough, I introduce them to the flock during the daytime for bonding. I supervise this event to prevent any aggressive fighting. Before allowing them to share the pen without supervision, I ensure that the younger hens have shelter and hiding places to escape from pecking hens if necessary. Additionally, I provide additional waterers and feeding stations to minimize conflicts during mealtime.
The Pecking Order
In poultry production, the pecking order refers to the social hierarchy established among the chickens within a flock. Chickens are social animals and naturally form a social structure with dominant and submissive individuals.
The pecking order is primarily established through pecking behavior, where higher-ranking birds peck or assert dominance over lower-ranking ones. Pecking can range from gentle pecks to more aggressive ones, and it helps to establish and maintain the social order within the flock.
The pecking order is important in poultry production for several reasons:
Dominant birds have priority access to food, water, and preferred roosting spots. They establish their dominance by pecking at subordinate birds, which learn to yield and defer to the higher-ranking individuals.
Once the pecking order is established, it helps reduce aggression and maintain order within the flock. Birds understand their position and are less likely to engage in excessive fighting or injurious pecking.
A stable pecking order provides a sense of stability and reduces stress among the chickens. When birds know their place in the hierarchy, they are less likely to exhibit anxious or aggressive behavior.
A well-established pecking order can contribute to better flock health and productivity. Dominant birds tend to be healthier, eat more, and grow better, which can positively impact overall flock performance.
New chicks quickly learn the established pecking order. The older hens will take care of it. Attempting to cut the line for food or water will result in a quick peck. If no rooster is in charge, the flock will always have a dominant hen. Chickens naturally form a hierarchical community. Every member of a well-established flock knows their place — when to eat, where to dust bathe when it's their turn to roost, and where to roost — and this pecking order governs every aspect of flock dynamics.
When new chicks are introduced to an existing flock of chickens, it disrupts the established hierarchy. Chickens are resistant to change and are sensitive to stress. The presence of newcomers can cause stress in older hens, leading to a decrease in egg laying.
Under stress, chickens may display aggressive behaviors such as pecking, feather pulling, fluffing their feathers, and even mounting other hens. If the aggression becomes severe and draws blood, it can escalate quickly and result in the death of the injured chicken. To address this, it is advisable to have a wound kit with styptic powder on hand to stop bleeding.
Although these behaviors may seem brutal to humans, they are a way for the flock to establish social order, a system that has been in place since the early days of chickens. Chickens lower in the pecking order rely on this dynamic for security. The dominant hen takes on the role of flock protector, warning lower-ranking hens about predator threats and scouting for treats like earthworms or grubs. Personal experience with a dominant hen squawking and flapping wings alerted the author to a coyote approaching the pen.
Nighttime integration
This is a method to gradually merge the new chicks with the older hens. Ideally, the new chicks would follow the older hens into the coop at night. However, this doesn't always happen, so the new chicks can be placed on the roost alongside the others.
This approach helps minimize conflicts, as the older hens are relaxed and sleepy at night, reducing the likelihood of aggressive encounters. In the morning, when they all wake up and leave the coop to feed and forage, they tend to pay little attention to who is beside them. A sufficient roosting area is essential to avoid overcrowding, unnecessary pecking, and squabbles.
Here are some management tips:
Keep new chicks separate in a brooder to monitor their health before introducing them to the flock. Even vaccinated chicks should be quarantined until they are at least 4 weeks old.
Growing hens have different nutritional requirements from older laying hens. Providing grower feed to all and supplementing the older hens' diet with oyster shell, which contains calcium, helps meet their respective needs. The grower feed has lower calcium levels, which is suitable for younger chicks, while the oyster shell provides the necessary calcium for the laying hens to produce strong eggshells. This approach works well for a mixed-aged flock.
When adding new chicks to the flock, it is advisable to introduce an equal or greater number of new chicks compared to the existing ones. Adding just one or two new chicks to a large flock can lead to problems. The existing flock will already be dominant, and a single new chick will struggle to defend itself against the established group.
Introducing chickens of different breeds to an existing flock can be challenging. The established flock may not recognize the newcomers as chickens and may attack them. It is easier to integrate a variety of breeds if they are raised together from chicks, as they grow up recognizing each other. Adding a feathered silkier bantam to an existing flock of a different breed can result in disastrous consequences.
Understanding flock dynamics can help minimize conflicts when integrating new and old hens, but not all confrontations can be eliminated. While it's impossible to completely avoid natural battles during the integration process, taking it slow and allowing ample time for adjustment can help reduce stress for everyone involved.
Poultry farmers need to be aware of the pecking order and monitor the flock for any signs of excessive aggression or bullying. Providing adequate space, environmental enrichment, and a balanced diet can help minimize aggression and promote a harmonious social structure within the flock.
