Hello everyone!
I put my 8 new 3 month old pullets (I think they are all pullets lol) inside a crate in the run to let them be introduced to my 2 RIR girls who are 4-5 years old. My older girls were very calm, no pecking or aggressions of any kind. When I opened the crate to let the new girls put, my older chickens sauntered into the coop and stayed for about an hour or so while the new girls explored the run. I opened the side coop door and told the older girls to "go out and meet their new friends" in my sing-songy voice I usually use with them. These 2 older girls are very calm and happy girls so they trusted me and slowly walked out of the coop door. They stood about 10 ft away from the new girls with no contact, quick movements or territorial sounds/behaviors. My largest new girl (or roo?) Bee-lined straight at the older girls and full on attacked. No normal neck arching, head bobbing, eye contact type pecking order dance. Full on clock fighting attack. My older girls immediately retreated, but the new girl wasn't letting up for a second. 1 older girl ran back into the coop and the other's only escape was to get on a perch. The new girl snatched her off the perch, slamming her to the ground. The older girl finally broke free and ran into the coop. The new girl chased her but stopped short of entering the coop. My older girls now won't leave the coop and the new girls all spent the night on a perch in the run under strict supervision of the aggressive one. ( none of the new girls has entered/explored the coop yet). I understand the aggressive girl is protecting her brooder mates and pecking orders will need to be reestablished and I may be overreacting, but I have never seen such a violent unprovoked attack when adding to my existing flock. I'm not willing to allow my older girls to remain hostage inside the coop so I'm hoping for some advice. Should I crate the aggressor up in a crate inside the run? Should I let it just play out? I feel so guilty about my sweet girls trusting me, only to be waylaid and now living in fear.
I put my 8 new 3 month old pullets (I think they are all pullets lol) inside a crate in the run to let them be introduced to my 2 RIR girls who are 4-5 years old. My older girls were very calm, no pecking or aggressions of any kind. When I opened the crate to let the new girls put, my older chickens sauntered into the coop and stayed for about an hour or so while the new girls explored the run. I opened the side coop door and told the older girls to "go out and meet their new friends" in my sing-songy voice I usually use with them. These 2 older girls are very calm and happy girls so they trusted me and slowly walked out of the coop door. They stood about 10 ft away from the new girls with no contact, quick movements or territorial sounds/behaviors. My largest new girl (or roo?) Bee-lined straight at the older girls and full on attacked. No normal neck arching, head bobbing, eye contact type pecking order dance. Full on clock fighting attack. My older girls immediately retreated, but the new girl wasn't letting up for a second. 1 older girl ran back into the coop and the other's only escape was to get on a perch. The new girl snatched her off the perch, slamming her to the ground. The older girl finally broke free and ran into the coop. The new girl chased her but stopped short of entering the coop. My older girls now won't leave the coop and the new girls all spent the night on a perch in the run under strict supervision of the aggressive one. ( none of the new girls has entered/explored the coop yet). I understand the aggressive girl is protecting her brooder mates and pecking orders will need to be reestablished and I may be overreacting, but I have never seen such a violent unprovoked attack when adding to my existing flock. I'm not willing to allow my older girls to remain hostage inside the coop so I'm hoping for some advice. Should I crate the aggressor up in a crate inside the run? Should I let it just play out? I feel so guilty about my sweet girls trusting me, only to be waylaid and now living in fear.
