2 pullets Aggressive to the newbies

[maran man 32]

Ok well I have New flock consisting of a blue copper maran cockerel a black cochin cockerel a cuckoo maran pullet two Easter Egger pullets an old English pullet two black copper maran pullets and I've added five pullets of the same age another black copper two welsummers one aracuana and one cuckoo maran the two original black coppers pick on all the new chicks so I took them out for a week and put them back this morning now they're worse plucking feathers and attacking the others please help what do I do ?!?!

 

[maran man 32]

 

[Den in Penn]

House them separate but next to each other for a week or so, that way they get used to each other. There will always be some fighting for the top of the pecking order, you just have to let it happen and intervene only if there is blood. The more space you have the better for the loser to run away and not be hurt.

 

[maran man 32]

Should I still seperate them if its only two that have a problem with the new ones ?

 

[Den in Penn]

If we treat this as a case of bulling in a established pecking order then removing bullies out of sight and hearing for a week and putting them back in one at a time is one way to do it. Putting them back one at a time doesn't give a bully an ally. Wait till it settles is week and put the other in. If they are still chicks say under six weeks then leave them together and provide two feeders and waters put in things to block the lines of sight and monitor to see if the bulling to eases.

 

[maran man 32]

They are six and a half so should I still try the seperate waterers and feeders ?

 

[Den in Penn]

Yes a second set would help. More space would be in order and blocked lines of sight. At six weeks if they can go out of the brooder especially this time of year. If you have an empty coop putting them in it will be a distraction that will help. Putting them on the grass for a while is another distraction. They aren't yet set in their ways and if they have something to channel their behavior into something else, the bad behavior should stop.

 

[maran man 32]

They are in a big coop with a 32 by 16 foot run its massive