4 weekers and 9 weekers

[LindseyC]

I'll talk to the husband and see what we can rig up. I just got so nervous out there watching them because I don't want one to get hurt. I've got a little Black Langshan that is just so little and awkward. 2 of the babies have feathered feet and that seems to be an area of focused pecking, too. I also wondered if maybe the fact that I was out there made them more "pecky" towards the little ones. The only way into our coop is by a ramp so I'm also worried that they won't let them in. Ugh... I had such high hopes. I tried to talk it out and reason with them, but they're stubborn heifers. (of course, I'm kidding... or am I?) No, in all seriousness, what you say makes a lot of sense. I just worry about the babies and I would hate to think that something I did caused them to get injured or at the worst, to be pecked or trampled to death.

 

[karissapaul]

Make sure they have a place to run to if they are being hurt

 

[LindseyC]

I had a piece of plywood that we made a little "lean to" with, but one of the bigs wedged their way back there and scared them to death. We'll figure something out. I really want this to work out.. the sooner the better. We leave for vacation on the 1st and my sister will be house, dog, and chicken sitting for me. I think that just adds to my stress.

Does the chasing and pecking ever stop? I mean, are they always going to be pecked at while they’re smaller or will it settle to where they just treat them like the others. I know when they’re older this will be the case but what about while there’s such a difference in size?

 

[aart]

There is always be pecking, charging, and some chasing...
....even in long and well established flocks.
Watch the pecked birds closely, they run away and soon are back to their chickeny activities...they know it's part of their society and they just shrug it off.

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.

 

[LindseyC]

I got the metal dog crate back that I loaned my sister to use as an escape room, although she forgot to send the pins that hold it together. The husband made a small round and covered ‘arena’ out of left over wire. He lined the opening with wood so there wouldn’t be any rough edges. We’ll use the dog pen as a 2nd hidey hole spot when I get the missing pieces. Tomorrow evening, we’ll put an entry into their brooder for inside the coop. I’ll post photos tomorrow. Thanks for all the help!

 

[LindseyC]

It was cooler and rainy yesterday so we waited until today. I haven’t gotten the pins for the dog crate, but this surely will work for now.

 

[LindseyC]

This integrating babies is not for the faint of heart. All day long they got pecked here and there. I only intervened once when 2 had one of the babies trapped in a corner. I didn’t interfere with them any other time, and it was so HARD not to. When I see something scared, it’s my instinct to want to help... but I didn’t. They also had moments where they napped and seemed to ignore the littles. As evening started to come, the big girls went in the coop and the littles either didn’t know to go in or were scared to. The bigs hung out at the door, so I’m sure that’s part of the reason. Ugh.. this may do me in. I kept trying to shove them in through the door and they’d come right back out because they were scared. I was attempting this by myself bc I was the only one home. Thankfully, my husband wasn’t too far from home and helped me when he got here. There is a small door cut into the side of their brooder and at first when I put one in, it would come right back out. They are/were all tucked safely in the brooder so hopefully that’s where they’ll stay for the night. If I wake up to a massacre, I may cry. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to just get rid of all the babies. I’m just not sure I can handle the stress of trying to make it work.

 

[blackdog043]

Go back in your woods tomorrow and rake some stuff up, to put in your run. This will give your chickens something to do, besides chase the little ones. I can't tell if your run is some sand or it's just dirt, but deep litter in your run would work well.

 

[LindseyC]

We have grass, twigs, weeds, etc. It’s not relentless pecking, but I’m a total noob and it’s stressing me out.

 

[RWise]

I would do something with the plywood leaning against the fence, at least secure it so it cannot be blown over. Trust me on this, it is not what you want to find laying on a hen/chick.