A single chook fails to join the flock

[aart]

It'll be difficult to isolate the worst bullies, as it's half the flock.

Having another enclosure adjacent to main setup, or splitting off a section with wire, can still help you play 'mix and match chicken juggling'. It will throw them off and put a hiccup in the bullying. Add a bunch of hiding places, stuff to climb up on and behind/out of line of sight, etc will offer diversion and that 'change' chickens don't like so much.

Course it could be that something is wrong with Daisy that the birds can sense but you cannot. Sometimes a bird just will not fit in with the flock and should be removed.

 

[dpetzen]

Having another enclosure adjacent to main setup, or splitting off a section with wire, can still help you play 'mix and match chicken juggling'. It will throw them off and put a hiccup in the bullying. Add a bunch of hiding places, stuff to climb up on and behind/out of line of sight, etc will offer diversion and that 'change' chickens don't like so much.

Course it could be that something is wrong with Daisy that the birds can sense but you cannot. Sometimes a bird just will not fit in with the flock and should be removed.

Thanks, I think these are all good suggestions.

I wonder if I should split the flock up with Daisy, a couple of 'friendlies' and a bully in one flock and the rest in the other.

It's a bit of a nightmare to keep two flocks in a limited amount of space, but I'll do it if it means I can get Daisy integrated.

I probably have the option of returning her to the woman who rescued her from the factory, but it would break my heart to part with Daisy now. I'm way too fond of her.

I'll have to think a bit about this.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[PetesChicks]

Having another enclosure adjacent to main setup, or splitting off a section with wire, can still help you play 'mix and match chicken juggling'. It will throw them off and put a hiccup in the bullying. Add a bunch of hiding places, stuff to climb up on and behind/out of line of sight, etc will offer diversion and that 'change' chickens don't like so much.

Course it could be that something is wrong with Daisy that the birds can sense but you cannot. Sometimes a bird just will not fit in with the flock and should be removed.

Now I know what Chicken Juggling is! I’ve wondered about that for a long time!!

 

[aart]

Now I know what Chicken Juggling is! I’ve wondered about that for a long time!!

The 'chicken juggler' moniker was inspired by finding my avatar.

 

[dpetzen]

I'm sorry for the lack of activity on my behalf; things got really busy. I lost one of my old chooks, Cthulhu, despite vet treatment and medication. Very sad. At least she had a fantastic final part of her life with me and the other chooks.

As for Daisy, things finally have resolved themselves.

She kept on trying and trying, and has finally been (kind of) accepted into the flock. She gets a proper peck quite often, but she is finally together with the rest of the flock and no longer living on top of the coop.

She still only submits to me (as if I approach her from above too fast etc) and still just runs off when the other chooks are trying to put her in her place. She doesn't fight back and has therefore ended up at the bottom (by default), but seems to be quite happy with the others.

So it all worked itself out in the end, which is such a relief.

Thanks for all tips and advise!

 

[L1sa]

I'm so glad it all worked out for Daisy. I'm pretty sure all chooks will eventually integrate just some take a while.

I Bought 2 x3 week old chicks last summer and had to keep them seperate for weeks, every time I tried to integrate them they were picked on and pecked on relentlessly, so back in to seperate accommodation they went! And this went on for a long time. Eventually they kind of integrated but as 2 flocks living together and then finally they all merged into one flock. Well, one of those new ones (Doris) has just hatched out her own chicks and is in the process of integrating them into the flock. I think she may have lost some of her standing in the order of things though, as she's now being pecked on again, even by her flock sister! Thankfully they don't seem bothered by the new chicks!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the pecking order is a primordial thing and constantly changing/updating, it seems mean to us, but it is just survival of the fittest, and I don't think they feel emotional about it, it's just the way of things when you're a chicken.
Makes me feel glad that I'm not a chicken though!!

 

[dpetzen]

I'm so glad it all worked out for Daisy. I'm pretty sure all chooks will eventually integrate just some take a while.

I Bought 2 x3 week old chicks last summer and had to keep them seperate for weeks, every time I tried to integrate them they were picked on and pecked on relentlessly, so back in to seperate accommodation they went! And this went on for a long time. Eventually they kind of integrated but as 2 flocks living together and then finally they all merged into one flock. Well, one of those new ones (Doris) has just hatched out her own chicks and is in the process of integrating them into the flock. I think she may have lost some of her standing in the order of things though, as she's now being pecked on again, even by her flock sister! Thankfully they don't seem bothered by the new chicks!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the pecking order is a primordial thing and constantly changing/updating, it seems mean to us, but it is just survival of the fittest, and I don't think they feel emotional about it, it's just the way of things when you're a chicken.
Makes me feel glad that I'm not a chicken though!!

Thanks! Yes, both Daisy and I are very happy that she is part of the flock now.

She gets chased around and pecked at, but she's a very happy chook despite that. They are extremely resilient to this bickering and pecking. It's just as you say: it's primordial and the natural way of being a chicken in a flock.