12 Week Old Chickens Bulling the *NEW* 10 Week old Polish Chick.(What should I do?)

[pvchicken1]

Today I integrated a 10 week old Polish Chicken into my flock of 5. Immediately the 12 week old chickens started to peck at the polish's head. Is this normal and should it stop after they figure out the pecking order? All comments will help. Will I need to separate?

 

[sourland]

Monitor closely. Frequently in mixed flocks Polish have their crests removed and may even be scalped.

 

[pvchicken1]

Monitor closely. Frequently in mixed flocks Polish have their crests removed and may even be scalped.

Will they stop pecking each other?

 

[sourland]

This is something different from the pecking order in my opinion, and frequently it escalates.

 

[pvchicken1]

This is something different from the pecking order in my opinion, and frequently it escalates.

Okay. I hope they get along better soon. It is only their first day together.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Did you have her next to them where they could see but not touch each other?

Personally I would keep Polish with just Polish.

For whatever reason those poofy heads are a target. It ends badly for the Polish. They get pecked bloody and with the vaulted skull can have severe brain trauma from the pecking.

 

[pvchicken1]

Did you have her next to them where they could see but not touch each other?

Personally I would keep Polish with just Polish.

For whatever reason those poofy heads are a target. It ends badly for the Polish. They get pecked bloody and with the vaulted skull can have severe brain trauma from the pecking.

Ok, They are in the same cage. They are still figuring out the pecking order.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ok, They are in the same cage. They are still figuring out the pecking order.

Yes but...were they housed next to each other so they could get used to the new bird at all? If you add a bird without doing a "see but no touch" they will be attacked. It is how chickens are wired.

 

[aart]

They are in the same cage.

How big is the 'cage', in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Yes but...were they housed next to each other so they could get used to the new bird at all? If you add a bird without doing a "see but no touch" they will be attacked. It is how chickens are wired.

This^^^

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/