Adding new chicks/pecking order!

kjchick917

In the Brooder
7 Years
Sep 13, 2012
11
0
22
We have three hens that are about a year old, and we got two new chicks this spring to replace two that ended up being roosters from our first group. They are about 11 weeks old, and they have been living in a "mini" coop and run we set up right next to the coop for about 4 weeks.

We've recently tried to integrate them, and the one boss lady pecks at them often if they attempt to move around the run. If they are cowering in the corner, she leaves them alone... The first day together, I put cabbage in the run, and they seemed to be distracted enough to get along so the smaller girls could eat and drink comfortably with minimal pecking. They spent the night together and in the morning, most of the focus was on the new chickens. I was watching from afar and it seemed that they were pecking a little too much, so I went back out to put them in a dog crate with food and water for a break. One had been pecked on her comb area and was slightly bleeding. I cleaned her off and they seemed ok once alone.

What's the best idea from here to have them accepted? I was thinking maybe they are still too small to really defend themselves, and I could separate them during the day and move them into the coop to sleep at night until they are older? Any suggestions appreciated!

Thanks!
 
It's better to introduce new chickens to the flock when they are more or less the same size as the existing flock members. Keep your chicks separate, but within sight of the older ones a bit longer before letting them loose together again. There will still be some pecking as they reestablish the pecking order, but unless it's excessive and someone gets injured don't intervene.
 
I agree with waiting until they are bigger to put them together in the run.... I would add that when we had young chicks and older hens, we only let them mingle when they were free ranging. That way, the bigger hens are busy and there are lots of easy places for the younger chicks to hide if needed. The older hens very rarely bothered they younger chicks in the yard. Another tip... when you do decide to put them together, I've had my best luck putting the new birds in the coop at night. When I've done it during the day, my dominate hens really go after them. Good luck!
 
I've a similar situation, but I've 2 bantam silkies that are younger that I want to introduce to the flock that is full-size hens. What do you advise for such different sized birds?
 
Wait until the Silkies are fully grown. In the meantime keep them separate, but within sight, as I said above, so they'll get used to each other.
 
Thanks for the help. I put them back next to the main coop. I let them all out yesterday and they were only bothered once. I'll wait a couple more weeks before attempting to move them in.
 
So, devastatingly this morning when I went out to open up the chicken's coops, I found feathers everywhere. In a panic I quickly opened up the younger girl's coop to find just one lady in there.
hit.gif
I had seen a raccoon just over the past few days, and even though we locked them up, it ripped off a side piece of the their mini coop and stole her. Sigh.
So, now my question is, should I force the other one in with the big ones even though she's still a bit smaller? She'll be lonely now, and I know the bigger coop is more secure...
 
Put some brush in the run and coop for the chick to get away from the mean bird. You might put food and water in the brush for the chick too.

I had bossy hen and 're-homed her. My coop is so much better without her. She is not so bossy at her new home.
 
So I'm stressing about this. My husband hasn't gotten my new chicken yard built and I had to put my young wyandottes in with some older chickens. Right now they are hiding and okay, but when they come out they pick on them. I keep going out to check on them. They don't seem to be hurting them. Just bullying.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom