2 New BOSSY birds

LorettaKristy

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Hello, we currently have 5 backyard birds. With a coop, and a run. And they have free roam of the yard when we are home. We had 3, and a few days ago added 2 new birds. They are BOSSY! They are only 6 mos older. We have a chicken "Loretta" With only one good eye. I noticed today that her eye and her comb has been pecked at, not too bad but I know once it starts it can be deadly. We are going to separate her for the next few days to heal. After I am going to try vicks on her back to deter pecking. We are also adding a dust bin, and a pecking block. Am I missing anything else? We love Loretta she is the sweetest ever! I want to be sure Im doing all I can to help them all integrate. Thanks!
 
The coop is 3 by 4ft, it is surrounded by a large kennel 4 by 6, which is then surrounded by a fenced off area that is about 60 ft. i can post pics tomorrow. I have 1 rhode island red, 2 leghorn, 2 wyaondotte. We have one large feeder and one large water, a pecking block, and dust bath areas all in the fenced area. When we are home they have free roam of the yard which has a large water as well. Today we just built a fence and they will be out all of the time. To integrate we let them all hang out and that was that. We are first timers and im sure there are better ways. The 2 new ones (wyandottes ) have been with us for a week. For now we have Loretta separated until her comb and eye heals, and well try the vicks. I would love any input on how we can improve. Thanks!
 
Welcome to BYC!

Coop is tight space for 5 birds, especially during integration.
Vicks might not be too effective, and could irritate eyes and lungs of the bird it is on.

What is your climate?
Putting your general location in your profile can really help garner viable answers/suggestions.

Here's some integration tips.
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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
 
Better choice then vicks would be pick-no-more or blu-kote. Both are designed to stop the pecking.

Anything strong smelling like Vicks I would not use. Besides being hard on their very tiny lungs it is designed as a topical treatment for humans. Birds preen A LOT and would ingest it. Pretty sure that can be bad too.

Your new birds are a breed I have had very little luck with in town. They are a breed that is known to be on the bossier side of life.
 

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