8 week old chicks pecking at 6 week olds

[reesadz]

I have 3 8 week old chicks and just picked up 2 6 week olds. I let them run around the yard for a while initially and the most dominant 8 week-old chased and pecked at them a bit. I put them in the coop run to "sort things out" and the older chicks are still pecking at the younger ones and chasing them away from the food. Any advice? As a side-bar, I already have separated my 4 year old adult hen from the 8 week-old chicks as she had previously pecked one of the other chicks to death.

 

[sourland]

Provide multiple feed and water stations and make sure that the younger chicks are not being physically injured. Chicken society is generally not kind.

 

[azygous]

I would add to what Sour has pointed out by saying that all chickens need time to get acquainted before they get thrown together. No matter what age chickens are, they wrote the book on xenophobia. Strange, new chickens are looked on as a threat and are unwelcome.

If you give them safe enclosures side by side for a week or so, giving them all time to observe one another as to what temperaments they are needing to deal with, then they will learn who to trust and who needs to be avoided. The result is a much smoother integration once they begin to mingle.