I have had the same problem this year. We started 8 pullets. Of the 8, purchased locally, 3 were roos. My husband found some chicks on Craig's List. We picked up 6 of these to fill out our flock, and some friend's that had the same problem. Prior to leaving on vacation this last summer we needed to get the new ones in the coop to make it easier for the neighbors to care for them. They were fully feathered, and off heat, but about half the size of my big girls. I started about a week before leaving, bringing three of the chicks down to the main coop. The other three went to another owner. They were not attacked in the house, but when they went out into the run the big hens attacked. They eventually pinned the yongers under the house between the pier blocks and the fencing. I got them out and partitioned off the coop to give them one roost, and ground space. I did this with chicken wire so the big girls would get used to them. I kept this that way until the youngers were nearly the same size. I took the partition out. The yongers don't go into the run. They stay in the house during the day, and are first out when I open the door in the afternoon during free range time. The two remaining chicks stay together at all times. They are of laying age now, but have never mixed in. They roost separately, and stay to themselves. I am worried that they will never mix in, and always be attacked. They seem to have a victim's mindset now, and the big girls keep it going. One of the youngers (white) looks like a roo, but should be crowing by now. If I have to get rid of this roo, what will happen to my little buff hen? She will be completely alone. I believe that she is laying some. I think that if the white one is a roo, I will have to send them to a new home together.
I clearly made some huge error when I introduced the new ones. How can I avoid this in the future??B
By getting all your chicks at the same time! Trust me it is a royal pain in the bum if you get them at different ages!
When they are a bit older some hiding spots are good to add. And lots of distractions (cabbage rolls, a old picture in the coop, a chandelier .. j/k) :/ Really mixing it up though for decor always helped me.. Throw some old logs in the run and a plastic crate or two.
