Aggression toward recently introduced chickens

[liviu]

Do they have muffs and beards? Are the bullies pulling those out?

No they don't.

 

[MarlaMac]

No they don't.

Are you able to witness the bullying? Can you spend time with them with a water squirt bottle? I have had to do this with a rooster who was just a big meanie to a couple of my gals. After a couple of days he got the hint that he can't be a bully to the girls he was picking on.

Also - do your girls free range or are the 100% lock in a pen? If penned, how big is the pen? Do you have multiple feeding/watering areas that are out of sight from each other? Are there distractions/hiding places? Or is this simply a time to go to roost issue?

 

[liviu]

Are you able to witness the bullying? Can you spend time with them with a water squirt bottle? I have had to do this with a rooster who was just a big meanie to a couple of my gals. After a couple of days he got the hint that he can't be a bully to the girls he was picking on.

Also - do your girls free range or are the 100% lock in a pen? If penned, how big is the pen? Do you have multiple feeding/watering areas that are out of sight from each other? Are there distractions/hiding places? Or is this simply a time to go to roost issue?

The squirt bottle is a great idea, although I may have to squirt most of the hens since many of them pick on those 2 newer ones.
The girls get about 2-3 hours to free range in our yard and they multiple feeders and waterers, but this doesn't happen at feeding time or when out and about - they're lowest on the totem pole in general, but they just get really harassed when going to roost at night.