How to Safely Combine Two Flocks of Chickens-7 Simple Tips

What Is a Pecking Order?

All groups of chickens will create a social order within the flock. Chickens bully, peck and “stand off” with each other to work their way to the top. It is usually the stronger, larger, more aggressive chicken that will become the alpha chicken. If you have a rooster, he will be the alpha chicken.

Why Are My Chickens Pecking Each Other? 7 Important Reasons

Understanding the Pecking Order

All flocks will figure out a “pecking order.” If you have roosters, there will be three different pecking orders within the flock: the first is between a rooster and his hens, the second is between the hens, and the third is between the roosters.

Adding or removing chickens from the flock will cause the flock to bully and peck each other to reestablish their pecking order.

This can happen when you:

• combine two flocks
• sell some of your flock
• a chicken becomes ill
• one happens to pass away

Once in place, pecking orders tend to remain mostly stable, though adding or removing flock members can disrupt the order, and it’s normal for lower flock members to tussle their way toward higher status. Open Sanctuary

1️⃣ Quarantine New Chickens First

It’s exciting to bring home new chickens — and tempting to introduce them to your flock right away. But skipping quarantine is one of the fastest ways to spread illness, mites, lice, and other parasites through your entire coop.

🏡 Why a Full 30-Day Quarantine Matters

Quarantining for a minimum of 30 days gives you time to watch for hidden health issues that may take days or weeks to show symptoms. This protective step keeps your established flock safe from:

• Airborne illnesses
• External parasites like mites & lice
• Internal parasites
• Respiratory diseases
• Contagious infections

😷 Keep the Quarantine Area Completely Separate

Many poultry diseases spread through the air. This means your new chickens should be housed in a separate coop, garage, shed, or enclosure — not just across the run.

Airborne Chicken Illnesses

These illnesses can spread when chickens — or humans — breathe in dried manure particles, dust, or coop dander.

🛑 Tips for Getting Chickens from an Unknown Source

Bringing home chickens from Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or even a local neighbor can be safe — but only if you take steps to protect your flock from parasites and hidden illness. Use these checks before committing:

• Check online seller reviews (eBay, NextDoor, Facebook groups).
• Ask to see the rest of the seller’s flock to assess overall health.
• Inspect every bird for mites and lice — especially around the vent and neck.
• Eyes and nostrils should be clear with no discharge or swelling.
• Vent area must be clean with no dried feces or diarrhea stuck to feathers.
• Quarantine newcomers for 30 days in a separate shed, coop, or garage.
• Observe daily for coughing, weight loss, lethargy, abnormal droppings, or parasites.

2️⃣ Separate Two Flocks With Chicken Wire

After a full 30-day quarantine with no signs of illness, it’s time to slowly introduce your new hens. This step lets both flocks safely observe each other without physical contact, lowering stress and preventing fights.

👀 Letting the Flocks Get Used to Each Other

Place both groups in the same general area but separated by a sturdy sheet of chicken wire or hardware cloth. This allows the hens to:

• See each other without threat
• Learn each other’s scent and sounds
• Dust bathe, forage, and preen side-by-side
• Get familiar with flock habits before physical contact

This “see but don’t touch” phase prevents instant dominance battles and helps settle the future pecking order more peacefully.

🍉 Feeding Two Flocks Near Each Other

Eating near one another teaches both groups that the other flock is not a threat. Here are simple ways to encourage positive early interactions:

• Hang fruits and vegetables along the dividing chicken wire
• Toss a light scattering of scratch near the barrier for both flocks
• Place waterers on each side of the fence so they drink close together

3️⃣ Wait Until Both Flocks Are Equal in Size

One of the biggest mistakes people make is combining flocks when the younger or newly purchased birds are much smaller. Size differences create instant dominance issues and dramatically increase the risk of bullying and injuries.

🐥 Why Size Matters So Much

• Larger hens will immediately assert dominance over smaller birds
• More pecking and chasing occurs when size difference is large
• Smaller pullets cannot defend themselves and may be cornered or injured
• Bloodshed is far more likely when flocks are mismatched

When both groups are roughly equal in size, the pecking order can settle naturally without severe bullying — making integration smoother, safer, and faster for every hen involved.

4️⃣ Combining Two Flocks at Night

Nighttime introductions take advantage of the flock’s natural sleep cycle. Chickens are far less alert and territorial in the dark, making this one of the gentlest ways to bring two groups together.

🌙 Placing the New Chickens Into the Coop at Night

After your established flock has settled onto the roosts for the evening, quietly bring the new birds inside the coop. Gently place them on the lower roost bars or even on the coop floor. By morning, everyone will wake up together — already sharing the same space.

☀️ The First Morning Together

Let everyone out at the same time and observe calmly. Some pecking or short chases are normal as the pecking order is renegotiated. This behavior should:

• Be brief and not excessively aggressive
• Not involve pinning or cornering
• Not result in bloodshed
• Gradually decrease over the next few days

If things seem too tense, give them extra supervised time together and use the chicken-wire separation method again at feeding times. Most flocks settle surprisingly quickly with this nighttime introduction strategy.

Combine the Two Flocks Just Before Roosting

Early evening is one of the calmest times of the day for chickens. As they wind down and prepare to roost, they become more focused on filling their bellies and finding a comfortable place to sleep — not on chasing newcomers.

🌅 Why Evening Is the Perfect Time

Integrating both flocks just before sunset can help reduce tension. Throwing a little scratch or mixed treats distracts everyone and keeps their focus on eating instead of challenging each other.

🌙 If the New Chickens Don’t Go Inside

New flock members may not automatically follow the older hens into the coop at night—especially during the first few days. If this happens, wait until the established flock has settled on their roosts, then gently place the new birds inside the coop.

This method keeps overnight stress low and helps the new flock learn the “bedtime routine” quickly and safely.

5️⃣ Introducing the Two Flocks While Free Ranging

Combining flocks is stressful for everyone — even the most laid-back hens. It’s common for egg production to drop temporarily due to the emotional strain of new flock dynamics. Free-range introductions help ease that stress dramatically.

🌳 Use a Large Area to Reduce Aggression

The more space your chickens have, the smoother the introduction will be. Wide, open areas allow hens that feel threatened to quickly move away, which reduces:

• Chasing and cornering
• Serious pecking disputes
• Stress behaviors like shrieking or hiding
• Fights over food, dust bath spots, or perches

🐔 Let the New Flock Members Out First

When introducing flocks without a barrier, letting the new birds out first allows them to explore the area and feel confident before the dominant hens arrive. Even better: choose neutral ground where neither flock has claimed territory.

• Reduces territorial behavior
• Makes newcomers feel less trapped
• Helps both groups relax into the environment

🍉 Use Treats as a Distraction

Chickens LOVE treats — and using them during introductions can shift all attention to eating instead of posturing.

• Toss mealworms or black oil sunflower seeds in a wide scattering
• Spread treats out so hens don’t compete in one spot
• Keep everyone busy and reduce dominant behaviors

🥣 Provide Multiple Food & Watering Stations

Dominant chickens often guard resources — especially around food. Avoid this by placing at least two feeding and watering stations far apart.

With space to move, plenty of food access, and a calm environment, free-range introductions become much smoother and safer for every hen involved.

6️⃣ Monitoring the Two Flocks

Once the physical introduction begins, your job isn’t over. The next several days are the most important in making sure the transition is smooth and safe. Chickens must establish a new pecking order — and that process can be a little noisy and dramatic.

👀 What Normal Behavior Looks Like

Expect a certain level of:

• Squawking and complaining
• Short bursts of chasing
• Light pecking to establish rank
• Hens avoiding the more dominant birds

This is all part of the natural flock hierarchy forming. Chickens need to determine who will sit highest on the roosts, who eats first, and who falls lower in rank.

🩸 When You Should Intervene

Light bullying is normal. **Bloodshed is not.** If you see anything severe, remove the bullied hen and try again later with more space or slower reintroductions.

📅 Continue Monitoring for 1–2 Weeks

The pecking order can take a week or two to settle fully. The more space they have, the smoother this process becomes.

• Provide extra room for escape routes
• Make sure everyone can access feed and water
• Watch for changes in behavior or appetite
• Add temporary hiding spots or obstacles if needed

With patience, supervision, and plenty of space, your flocks will settle into one cohesive group — each hen finding her place in the new hierarchy.

7️⃣ When to Intervene — Isolating Bully Chickens

Even with the smoothest integration routines, occasionally a hen becomes overly aggressive toward a newcomer. A little pecking is normal, but relentless bullying or any sign of bloodshed requires immediate action.

🚑 Have Your Chicken First Aid Kit Ready

Integrations can sometimes result in minor injuries. Make sure your chicken first aid kit is fully stocked and easy to grab. For detailed help, read:

• What Do I Need in My Chicken First Aid Kit?
• How to Fix a Broken Chicken Leg With 4 Dollar Store Items

🐓 Use a “Chicken Jail” to Isolate the Bully — Not the Victim

If one dominant hen repeatedly targets a newcomer, the correct move is to remove the bully, not the injured chicken. Isolating the victim only makes reintegration harder — and puts them lower in the pecking order.

After 24–48 hours of isolation, the bully often returns with a much more subdued attitude, allowing the integration to continue with far less aggression.

What Is “Chicken Jail”?

Chicken jail is an area where you temporarily isolate a bully chicken. A large dog cage works great. By isolating the bully out of the group, it can knock them down a few notches in the pecking order and hopefully decrease their aggressiveness.

🌿 Herbal Support for a Calm, Low-Stress Integration

Integrating flocks doesn’t have to be chaotic. These herbal blends help reduce stress, support hydration, keep nest boxes inviting, and promote calm behavior while the pecking order settles.

• Nesting Box Herbs — fresh scent & calmer nest areas
• Cooling Herbs — helps during warm-weather aggression
• Warming Herbs — supports calmness during stressful transitions

Conclusion

Safely combining two flocks can be stressful to both you and the chickens trying to establish a new pecking order. There are several different tips that can make integrating your two flocks go smoothly:

• Quarantine your new chickens for a minimum of 30 days to make sure they are healthy.
• Introduce your two flocks, separating them with chicken wire. This way they can get used to each other before they can touch each other.
• Wait until both flocks are the same size before fully integrating without barriers.
• Try combining the two flocks at night, either just before roosting or by placing the new chickens in the coop at night.
• Introduce while out free ranging, preferably on neutral ground. Remember, treats make good distractions!
• Integrate your two flocks when you are able to spend the time monitoring them for over aggressiveness.
• Be prepared to isolate any bully chickens by sending them to “chicken jail,” until they can establish their pecking order without any bloodshed.

Expect there to be some pecking, squawking and chasing going on as your two flocks try to figure out where everyone stands within the flock. With patience and a watchful eye, you can safely combine two flocks of chickens with little to no bloodshed.