2 separate young brahma flocks bullying

[tommytyler]

i have 3 dark brahmas 5+ months from one flock who are bullying 5 others slightly younger from another flock and wont let them down to scratch etc. all are brahma....its been 2 weeks but maybe its still a bit early. i have been putting older ones in hen house so they can see out and watch others scratch for awhile but once let out within 10 minutes they scare others up to the perches. i have been squirting them with spray bottle which does distract the bullying. will they work this out naturally or am i developing a lifelong habit of the 5 younger living up high? i'm in a wheelchair so i have to get help to catch and seperate them when i do. i just hope they all gel so i can enjoy them more and they all will be a happy flock.

tommy

 

[aart]

Sounds pretty normal...they won't merge as a flock until all are laying.
The more space they have the better things will be for the youngers.
Interfering if pretty futile, but might be satisfyingly amusing.
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 on their own...it's how chickens do.

Here's some tips that might help...
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.