3 month old chickens being harassed by 1 year olds....

[thercman]

So I put 3 new 3 month old chicks in with 2 1yr olds a week and a half ago. After the first day the babies where all crouched in the corner one bleeding. So I partitioned the coop until today. They seem a bit better but the adults are still chasing the little ones. Should I be concerned or are they just establishing a pecking order?

Regards,
Greg

 

[A Chicken Owner]

It's probably establishing a pecking order. This should stop after 1-2 weeks

 

[Happy Chooks]

Chasing is normal. It takes time for things to settle once you add new birds. Just keep an eye on them.

 

[thercman]

I will. Thanks guys!

 

[travifive]

If the pecking continues you may want to try putting the little ones in a cage where the older girls can still see them but can't get to them. After a few days you should see the older girls pecking and scratching the ground next to the cage without even paying attention to the others. I would even feed the older ones next to the cage to force them to get used to sharing the space. When you decide to put them back together do it after they've gone to roost. I've had great results with this little routine. Good luck.