Best way to introduce new birds to a flock

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richje100

richje100

Songster
10 Years
May 20, 2009
103
0
109
UK, Wales
Ive had 4 RIR's for about 5weeks now. today i decided to get 3more birds. 2 RIR's & 1 amberlink.
ive had the origanals since they were 12wks & the new comers are 18wks so they are roughly all the same age.
the 2 RIR's seem to have settled in ok but they others seem to be attacking the amberlink.
ive stayed with them for about 1hr today & every 10mins, they are chasing her & trying to pull out some feathers. even some pecking at her ears.
it doesnt seem to be as if she is trying to become top hen as she is quite & sits the corner.
ive tried splashing water over them when they are beaing nasty & they run away. but return 10mins later. ive even thrown in aload of weeds ive pulled to distract them. this has seemed to work but when she tries to get a branch, they snatch it off her.
it seems to be the top "dog" getting to her but also theother do too.
will she learn to defend herself or shall i get another amberlink incase its because she is different?
if i need to separate some of them, whats the best way?
i have a shed with a 19ft run attached. i could block half of it off but then what about at night? i dont have another shed.
any advice i would greatly listen too.
 
At this point, you need to divide the shed with something like chicken wire so the two groups can see and hear each other but not peck each other. You need to leave them separate for at least several days. Might have to have them take turns in the run, or turn some loose while others are in the run.

They are going to peck. The danger is when they peck to the point of drawing blood; then you can quickly have a flock of cannibals on your hands.

Here is a good article on mixing flocks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

If you get any more, you might read up on quarantining new birds first.
 
i dont think the shed ill be big enough if i split it in half. if i can, who would i keep together?
if that fails, i might take her back as its the last thing i want is to see her killed & might see if they will swap her for another RIR
 
ya you might want to quarintine the new ones for atleast 15 days if they had something it would spread to your original flock and it would turn out horrible if all sick so please be careful.
 
Usually, different breeds mix fine, but this does not seem to be the case for you. Perhaps your thought of trying to exchange her for another RIR would be the way to go.
 
yeah i think so too.
at the moment ive got her in my garden & ive made her a temp roost under my kids trampoline whch has a net all the way around the bottom so should keep out any unwanted visitors.
someone said to put cidar vinegar in the water. anyone heard of this?
i had to bring her out as they were going for her head & was afraid they'd get her eyes. they have left the other two alone.
 
has anyone used the "bits" or bumper bits? apparently they fit on th ebeak & does not allow the bird to peck & eventually get used to the new bird without causing injury
 
Long story short. I had two hens that were really aggressive so I put them in chicken jail for a week where they could see the other birds and the other birds could see them. When I let them out one was ok but one was still a bully. I put the bully hen back in the chicken jail which is a rabbit hutch that I had used as a brooder, for another week. When I let her out she was still a royal bully. I understand they have to establish their pecking order, but one hen was after blood so then I would squirt her with a hose when I saw her pouncing on one of the younger birds. Every time I saw her jump on and wail away on one of the pullets I squirted her with a hose. She eventually got the message or was getting tired of being squirted and decided it just wasn't worth it.

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