Bigger silkie hen continues to be mean to my smaller silkie.

[Shoovler]

I bought 2 silkie hens about a month ago (I'm a newby) I have one bigger silkie that continues to be mean to the smaller hen. I've separated them in 2 small dog crates indoors every night letting them face each other. I read somewhere that they will get used to each other this way. It's not working. I understand they are establishing a pecking order.....but how long does this take? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[CAL]

3 yo 4 days

 

[CAL]

3 to 4 days

 

[Shoovler]

3 yo 4 days

Hmmm...It's been a month. Should I separate until the small one get's bigger?

 

[venymae]

Are they different ages? Two is hard, if you have an overly aggressive hen. The low girl on the totem pole will always get a peck of two around the dominant hen, but an overly aggressive hen, with no one else to boss, can be too hard on the lower girl.

 

[Shoovler]

Are they different ages? Two is hard, if you have an overly aggressive hen. The low girl on the totem pole will always get a peck of two around the dominant hen, but an overly aggressive hen, with one else to boss, can be too hard on the lower girl.

Yes, I'm pretty sure they are different ages. (The aggressive one is a lot bigger) I'm thinking about getting another smaller one to be a friend to the little sweet one. Do you think that would solve the problem? Maybe they would team up on her??

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Depending on the relative age, size, and health of both hens, adding a second older or larger hen may result in the new hen usurping the place of your current alpha hen. Often when that happens depending on the relative strengths of the two bigger or more mature hens they will often form a two sided coalition and the 2nd place hen will take on the task of bossing the flock while the alpha hen takes her leisure. Remember that the pecking order is all about access to resources like roosting space, food, the most productive foraging ground, shade, and/or other loafing areas.

 

[aart]

I bought 2 silkie hens about a month ago (I'm a newby) I have one bigger silkie that continues to be mean to the smaller hen. I've separated them in 2 small dog crates indoors every night letting them face each other. I read somewhere that they will get used to each other this way. It's not working. I understand they are establishing a pecking order.....but how long does this take? Am I doing something wrong?

Do you have a coop and run?
They need space to work it out.

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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Shoovler]

Do you have a coop and run?
They need space to work it out.

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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Shoovler]

I do have a coop and a run. Thanks for providing me with this information!! Very helpful!!!