Afraid to put young pullets with established hens? *sigh*

[Sunshyne276]

Wow, this is a posting I had forgotten about! Anyway, i'm not sure.. Were the Wyandottes raised together, but not the Barred Rock?

 

[Tala]

My last introduction last week went like this: Me section off half the pen, put the newbies in (two BSL pullets hatched in November) there separated by chainlink fence from the adult flock but there is about a foot gap between the chainlink and the top of the run. Next morning me come out, and new pullets are in with the big kids acting terrified. Rinse and Repeat two or three days. Me get fed up with the STUPID new kids, open up the dividing fence, add 4 BSL cockerels to the mix, and tell them all to get tough or die.
They got tough and roost with the big girls now.

I think a lot has to do with the personalities of the new babies. The BSL's are pretty tough birdies. In my experience Barred Rocks and RIR's aren't chicken when it comes to making themselves at home with the bigger birds. Last spring I had 18 RIR chicks that were the youngest in my yard and they were stealing scratch from the big birds, while some of my other teenagers were keeping to themselves and avoiding confrontations.
Their SF friends didn't intermix so well, instead of sticking up for themselves, they cowered in fear. I'm afraid that they're too meek to live in the general population.

I have one single Bared rock and the rest Wyandottes. The Bared rock was always picked on, singled out. Not violently ..just being chased away from food or treats...
Is this normal? All are hens. no roosters.hu

Animals will pick on the one that is "different" especially if one is markedly different. In my flock I have 3 white birds, 3 barred birds, 3 black birds, a black roo, a brown roo, and a mix of the new BSL kids - so it's not all one color or one breed against one single different bird.​

 

[Mattemma]

I added mine when I switched them to layer food. I added them at night. They still peck way to much,but atleast no blood yet!