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.

 

[MarlaMac]

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.

Chickens can be brutal. I have 6 girls going on a year old that I introduced to my flock as chicks. The big girls still assert their dominance, but rooster settles most of the disputes. He goes to roost early on, so the big girls chase the littles off the feed trays at the end of the evening. But I have 6 trays so they are constantly going back and forth. The littles just stay away from them for the most part until the bullies go in then they feed and go in later.

They don't like the squirt bottle, so it may take a relatively short time to train them. I squirt and say "no" at the same time. Rooster has learned the "no" command.

I hope all works out quickly for your gals.

 

[liviu]

Chickens can be brutal. I have 6 girls going on a year old that I introduced to my flock as chicks. The big girls still assert their dominance, but rooster settles most of the disputes. He goes to roost early on, so the big girls chase the littles off the feed trays at the end of the evening. But I have 6 trays so they are constantly going back and forth. The littles just stay away from them for the most part until the bullies go in then they feed and go in later.

They don't like the squirt bottle, so it may take a relatively short time to train them. I squirt and say "no" at the same time. Rooster has learned the "no" command.

I hope all works out quickly for your gals.

Thank you kindly for the recommendation.