Bullies

[Ashhoward01]

I have 2 bullies who attacked one of my new girls as she was trying to lay an egg yesterday. I immediately removed the bullies because they drew blood. They are in the garage now but when should I reintroduce them? Thank you!

 

[Grits&Eggs]

they always attack the newbie, sorry the poor girl was laying an egg
my girl friend introduces new hens by putting them in a pen in the middle of her run and physically moving them to the coop for several days before letting them near each other, found this works well for mine too

 

[Ashhoward01]

Good idea. This is our first time introducing new girls so it’s completely new for us. We took them in from a friend and they did well together the first 3 days but yesterday was a war

 

[aart]

Good idea. This is our first time introducing new girls so it’s completely new for us. We took them in from a friend and they did well together the first 3 days but yesterday was a war

Did you just toss the new birds into the existing flock?

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

 

[Ashhoward01]

Thank you for that info...very helpful. I wish I would have done that. We put them in at night when my girls were roosting, probably not the best idea I’ve had the mean girls separated since Saturday and the new girls are getting along great with my orginal girls. Any advice on how much longer to keep the mean girls away?

 

[aart]

Thank you for that info...very helpful. I wish I would have done that. We put them in at night when my girls were roosting, probably not the best idea I’ve had the mean girls separated since Saturday and the new girls are getting along great with my orginal girls. Any advice on how much longer to keep the mean girls away?

Maybe a week or two.

More info would help:
-flock size(numbers, ages, genders).
-coop and run(size in feet by feet with pics).

 

[Ashhoward01]

I have 5 original girls who are about to be 1 year old and the 3 girls we took in are about 3 years old. Our coop is 10 ft by 12 ft