At what point do you decide adding chickens wasn't the right thing?

[phelpcd1]

Ok, so I need some wisdom/advice here. I got 2 pullets a couple of weeks ago (barred rock and buff orpington). They immediately bonded and "took over" their coop, the yard AND some of my vege beds, with the barred being the leader. I decided to go ahead and get 2 more (same source) this past Sat. I got another buff and americauna. I expected they wouldn't just immediately run up kissing all over each other or anything, but I did NOT expect the leader aka bully to terrorize the newbies. Both of the newbies are outcasts, especially the americauna.............Thelma chases both of them no matter where they are and has been pecking the americauna..........big time at night in the coop. No blood or anything, but feathers are missing. Poor little girl seems absolutely petrified and on guard 24x7. My first 2 have pretty much confined the newbies to inside the coop during the day. They both just sit in there (i've put water and food in it too for them). I've watched Thelma go into the coop and stir them up - sometimes they have come running out but end up right back inside to be left alone. It does not seem as though it's getting "better" if that makes sense...this is day 3 and I definately seem to have 2 separate flocks. Problem is, I'm in the city and don't have room for a 2nd coop/run. I might try putting the newbies into one of my dog's crates inside the coop to keep from being pecked and bothered at night........can't do that perm tho. At what point should they be getting along, or if ??? amount of time passes with no improvement is it time to think they will not integrate?? I am also going to ask the guy I got them from.......

I just feel so bad for them and feel like I made the wrong decision to add 2 to the good harmony that was already going. I really had no idea they would act quite like this.....they so remind me of dogs! The americauna is so beautiful, docile, meek and seems to be sweet as all get out.......my husband holds her and strokes her head and she just shuts her eyes like she's finally at peace.

 

[snoggle]

I'm new to chickens, so take this with a grain of salt. Just an idea.

Could you remove the bully for a few days, then let the other three get bonded and then see how it goes to put the bully back in? Maybe that would mix up the pecking order a little bit.

 

[Amarisus]

I'm not an expert but I would take the barred rock that is being the bully and seperate her from all the others for a few days, (like a dog crate in the garage or something) When you put her back she should be lower on the pecking order and hopefully nicer. Its worth a try.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yup. Don't take out the lower pecking order, or this will just happen again when the inevitable reunion has to take place. Why go through this again?

Take out the leader. It will take solitary, separation for her to slip in the pecking order, so don't re-introduce too quickly. Let a good 8-10 days pass and then when the bully is re-introduced, she'll be the uncomfortable outsider.

This does not ALWAYS work. Sometimes a bully goes right back to the top and right back to the same behaviors, but this does work very often. Worth a try.

 

[phelpcd1]

Thanks for the advice..........altho not sure how I'd separate any of them. We really don't have room to setup a whole other coop/run. I watched her again tonight get into the coop and start pecking and the americauna just cowers down and won't fight back. It's very sad........I got my husband out there and we grabbed the newbies and put them into one of the dog crates that I lined with hay - at least at night they will be safe from pecking. The crate is still inside the coop, but it's closed so no way of attack. I really believe by watching them for quite a while that Thelma will be head bird regardless.............the americauna won't fight back, stand up or anything - it's like she just gives up and takes it. I'm hoping for improvement by end of week by separating at night, otherwise, I kinda don't believe it's fair to keep these 2 in terror. I set out to keep happy, healthy, egg-laying chickens, not have a bunch of ruckus and bullying all the time! When we move to the country, I'll throw a rooster Thelma's way and see how she fairs with him!!

 

[aoxa]

I would have put the bully into the crate, not the ones being pecked :/

This happens when you introduce new birds. My head hen is very bossy when it comes to bedtime. Usually during the day she will leave them be unless they try to get treats before her. She calls first dibs. It's the way of life for them. Once they understand their place, there will be peace. It will take time. I had a huge bully when I first started. Once my flock got bigger, the bully had more to share her wrath with lol

 

[Fred's Hens]

I would have put the bully into the crate, not the ones being pecked

This happens when you introduce new birds. My head hen is very bossy when it comes to bedtime. Usually during the day she will leave them be unless they try to get treats before her. She calls first dibs. It's the way of life for them. Once they understand their place, there will be peace. It will take time. I had a huge bully when I first started. Once my flock got bigger, the bully had more to share her wrath with lol

Yup. Posted similar earlier. Don't segregate the lowly, segregate the bully. Make the bully sleep in the crate.

 

[CarolJ]

Agree that the bully should be the one that is separated. Also - make sure there is somewhere for the submissive ones to hide from the bully.

 

[aoxa]

Agree that the bully should be the one that is separated.  Also - make sure there is somewhere for the submissive ones to hide from the bully. 

 

 

[jak2002003]

Don't worry too much......they will eventually get themselves sorted out. I am adding hens and roosters all the time to my flock.

I would but the bully hen in a dog crate for a few days in the run in the day, and in the coop at night. This will give the new hens a chance to calm down and settle into their new home and get some confidence. They will also get to see the bully close up, with no danger of being attacked. After 3 or 4 days let the bully out - last.

They will fight again, but now the new ones will be more confident. Close the coop so the new ones can not hide in there. They have to face the fight to establish the pecking order. At the end of the day they should have sorted it out and there will only be little squabbles, which will get less often, over the next few days.

They really will be OK. Just let them fight it out.....as long as not blood is seen.