OK we are newbies...last Sunday we purchased a flock of four and a coop. All of these hens are the same age about a year and a half. Yesterday I purchased 2 more about 14 months old.
I brought them home about 8:30 in the morning and kept them in a separate pen next to the main coop until about 3:30. I then added them to the main run. The fighting began immediately. Last night all seemed OK, no blood and they all went into the coop together.
This morning I witnessed one of the new hens being pined to the ground. I went out to check on them and observed one of the new ones has the back of her comb picked off and bleeding. I have he new ones isolated again.
Here are the questions...NOW WHAT? Now I'm sure all of you experienced chicken wranglers can come up with at least 15 questions I have. Please answer at will.
I brought them home about 8:30 in the morning and kept them in a separate pen next to the main coop until about 3:30. I then added them to the main run. The fighting began immediately. Last night all seemed OK, no blood and they all went into the coop together.
This morning I witnessed one of the new hens being pined to the ground. I went out to check on them and observed one of the new ones has the back of her comb picked off and bleeding. I have he new ones isolated again.
Here are the questions...NOW WHAT? Now I'm sure all of you experienced chicken wranglers can come up with at least 15 questions I have. Please answer at will.