Agressive hen

[RoyD1949]

I have a starter flock of 4 Barred Rocks and a Barred Rock rooster. About 3 weeks ago I added 2 more young hens, age unknown, but I have one hen that will peck them to the extreme whenever they get off the roost, the rooster tries to get between them but can't stop it. I keep the feeder and water in the coop, so in order for the young hens to eat, I have to shut the others out while they eat and drink. Does anyone have any idea how long this pecking order battle will go on?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's not a pecking order thing. The original birds are trying to drive out what they see as intruders into their territory. It's best to pen new birds where they can be seen for a few weeks before introducing them, that way they are at least familiar. I would keep an eye on the situation and intervene if you are seeing blood or excessive pecking.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

I agree with putting them in a see/no touch set up for a couple weeks. It would have been good to quarantine them before integration too just to make sure you weren't bringing any disease into your existing flock.

When you try integration again, there are a few things that will help out with the newbies vs aggressive hens. Put food and water in more than one location. Also make sure there are several obstacles in the run so the ones being attacked can get away from the older more dominant ones. A crate leaning against the wall, a chair, a roost or two, a log, so many ways to do this.

Not to worry. We all learn this way.

 

[MROO]

If you can fit a large wire dog kennel in your coop, you can set your two newbies up in there for at least two weeks ... until the others pretty much ignore them. When you do turn them loose, be sure to keep their feeder and waterer in the coop, too - so you have multiples. The obstacle suggestion is a really good one. It not only gives the new girls a place to hide, but it gives all of them some stimulation by providing a "playground."

 

[aart]

Pecking order on steroids during integration @RoyD1949 .

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[MROO]

Pecking order on steroids during integration @RoyD1949 .

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

X 10!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does anyone have any idea how long this pecking order battle will go on?

I consider it a pecking order thing but a bit more than that. Mature chickens automatically outrank immature chickens in the pecking order, so there is that component. But mature hens are often not tolerant at all if immature chickens invade their personal space so it is more intense than just normal pecking order. Some mature hens are more laid back, but not all of them for sure. And most mature hens are pretty tolerant of a lower ranking but also mature hen invading her space. Each hen has her own personality but some can be more brutish than others. Mature roosters tend to be more tolerant about this than the mature hens.

My immature pullets tend to avoid the adults on the roosts and other places, (but especially on the roosts) until they mature enough to force their way into the pecking order. With my pullets that's typically when they start to lay. I would not call it a battle, it's too one-sided to be a battle. But the bullying is pretty normal until my pullets start to lay. Then it quits.