"Buk buk bukaaawhk" (actually more of a "ca cah cacahk"

[courtneyytags]

A few questions, one about my hen's "squaking" or "bukawhkwing," one about egg laying times, and one about hens bullying.

I named my chickens but for the sake of this thread, I will just refer to them with their breed and age. I have seven chickens, two five month silver laced Wyandotte, three feral babies that my cat caught (we rescued them), and two seven month old ameraucanas that I just got yesterday. The silver laced Wyandotte's are the dominant hens and will attack my ameraucana hens. I have been separating them by putting my ameraucanas in the top compartment of my coop (they already got used to the nesting boxes and laid eggs) and my Wyandotte's in the run area at night. I keep the babies in a separate cage at night.

What I'm confused about is why my silver laced Wyandotte keeps going "bukbukbukbukbuk buKAWH" every now and then. Is this a territorial thing? It sounds kind of aggressive. I noticed she started doing it only a couple of months ago. Sometimes she would do it out of no where and sometimes she would do it when she was near me or near the new hens. It confuses me because she'll let me pick her up but goes silent when I put her on my lap. I'm not sure if she's practicing a egg laying song or if she's just a grumpy girl.

Since they're about to turn five months in a couple of weeks, should I be expecting some eggs next month?

Lastly, when I introduced my silver laced Wyandotte to my ameraucana, they started to fight. I watched the silver laced ones establish a pecking order between themselves by "bopping" each other on the head but these girls seem to actually fight with the ameraucanas. For example, the ameraucanas started to run away from the silver laced hens after the third or fourth peck. The silver laced hens chased them and kept pulling on their neck feathers. Hence, why I started to separate them. While the sun is out, I let them all out to free range in my yard. The silver laced hens will terrorize the chicks whenever they get close but won't tug or pull on their feathers like they did to my ameraucanas. Even then, my hens don't really focus too much on the chicks. They will let the chicks run away but will chase my ameraucanas. So far, my ameraucanas have been pretty scared to get out of the run and will occasionally come out to eat grass and food. For the most part, they all stay within their "cliques," but I'm afraid that my silver laced Wyandotte might be too aggressive? Tips on how I could introduce them or make them less aggressive? They will let me hold them just fine but will run aggressively at any other chicken their size. Let me know if I could post a video that would help.

 

[nuthatched]

Are you sure they're all girls?
Did you let them see each other but not get at each other for about two week?
Put the aggressive ones in time out, in a separate area.

 

[mommiesrcool]

I had a similar problem, it'll take time( 4+ weeks) and there will always be a pecking order a video would be helpful too! My pullet makes the egg song whenever I take her sister inside the house and she stops once she can see her they only have each other so I think that's why.

 

[mommiesrcool]

Are you sure they're all girls?
Did you let them see each other but not get at each other for about two week?
Put the aggressive ones in time out, in a separate area.

X2

 

[mommiesrcool]

Also welcome to BYC

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Wyandottes are generally more dominant and are often the top birds, from what I've read and experienced (of course this isn't a strict rule as they're always individuals first). My 2 SLWyandotte's are head hen and #2 in the pecking order. They're with other hens that they've been with since hatch. I've heard of Wyandotte's being bullies but that's not the case here. My 2 SLWyandotte Hens are quite patient with the others, especially the bantams. I would give them more time and figure out a way to keep them separated but not able to get at each other. I believe @aart has a fabulous article on integrating birds

 

[aart]

and two seven month old ameraucanas that I just got yesterday.

If you just put these two new birds in with the others, of course they are picking on them.

Here's some why's and how-to's 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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[courtneyytags]

If you just put these two new birds in with the others, of course they are picking on them.

Here's some why's and how-to's 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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

So far, the ameraucanas have found a few spots to hide in my yard around pots and plants. They pairs tend to stay far away from each other on the opposites sides of the yard. Hopefully, they'll work it out soon. I guess my question is, while they're out in the yard (not just their run) and one of them is getting their feather tugged at, should I stop it?

 

[courtneyytags]

Thank you

Also welcome to BYC

 

[courtneyytags]

So far, the ameraucanas have found a few spots to hide in my yard around pots and plants. They pairs tend to stay far away from each other on the opposites sides of the yard. Hopefully, they'll work it out soon. I guess my question is, while they're out in the yard (not just their run) and one of them is getting their feather tugged at, should I stop it?

Also, as far as putting them in the run and coop area, I keep them separated.