Bully older flock is affecting new hens; new hens don’t mix and won’t go into coop at night

[Garrett33]

I have 30 hens and 3 roosters that are all 8 months old. We recently raised 25 hens that are now 2-3 months old. Problem, the original flock bully’s the new hens and keeps them away from food, chases and pecks them and are generally bad to the new hens. So the old flock goes into the coop at night and the new hens stay in the run all night; they don’t want to subject themselves to more bullying at night I guess. In the morning, the old flock moves into the run, and the new hens go into the coop to roost and eat. What do I do! The new hens (all 25 of them) totally avoid the old flock. How do I get them to coop together at night?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

First, how big is the coop in feet x feet?
Second, how many linear feet of roost do you have?
Third, how did you introduce the new birds to the older flock?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[Garrett33]

I introduced the new hens as 2-3 week old chicks in a separate penned area in the run for several weeks. The original flock could see them, but didn’t really take any care/notice of them that I saw.
The coop is 12x12 with lots of roosting bars and nesting boxes. The new hens can get to the roosting bars, and do go there during the day to avoid getting picked on.
The run is 12x15 with a ramp leading into the coop and a door that we open and close to allow day free range in the pasture. The new hens go out to free range sometimes, until an older hen chases them back into the run. When the old flock comes into the coop at night the new ones head to the run, there are places to roost, but the new hens all hang together and won’t sleep in the coop at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are these all standard size fowl? Neither the coop or run are technically big enough for an additional 25 birds (you have floor space in the coop 36 if you assume 4 sq ft per bird - though some will argue that's not a hard rule keep in mind that integration favors having more space), so the younger ones are treating the run as their roosting area since the older birds consider the coop as their night time space.

How many roosts are in the coop and what are the lengths? It's unlikely the existing birds want the newer ones to roost near them, so even if you have 1' roost per bird (a total of 58' linear feet) you may need even more right now so the younger ones can try roosting away from the others.

Even with free ranging all day, if you don't already have clutter in the area I would consider adding some to give the younger birds additional options for hiding that don't involve having to return to the run or the coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[21hens-incharge]

Looks like the run is 180 square foot so 18 adult birds going by the recommended space to reduce flock issues.

Free ranging works until predators show up or bad weather forces them to stay in.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, particularly when it comes to housing.

I agree in re: the space issues -- though the Usual Guidelines break down a bit when it comes to large flocks in large coops since any given bird has so much more room to avoid any other given bird.

Integration, however, takes extra space above and beyond the recommended minimums of 4 square feet in the coop and 10 square feet in the run.

It's necessary to have multiple feeders and multiple waterers, placed out of sight from one another so that bullies can't guard them all and lots of hiding places for subordinate birds' to get out of sight from the dominant birds.

Since you have multiple roosters it might be best to divide your flock into separate flocks in separate pens, each with a rooster and his hens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

55 x 4= 220. That's how many square feet of coop space you need, in general, for your chickens to be comfortable and feel safe in the coop at night. You have 144 square feet. That would seem to be the problem. Too many birds for the space.

 

[Chickenclaude]

You know, there will still be some bullying ..but when it interferes w safety or the ability to eat..I act. Separate bullies. Give the little ones time to enjoy the safety during nighttime. I have 2 that pick on the oldest hen..she’s a sweetheart..yesterday while feeding them they pecked at her and I swatted them away from the food. If I see it I swat them Away from the food..Seems to be happening less. So I guess IM the bully.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You know, there will still be some bullying ..but when it interferes w safety or the ability to eat..I act. Separate bullies. Give the little ones time to enjoy the safety during nighttime. I have 2 that pick on the oldest hen..she’s a sweetheart..yesterday while feeding them they pecked at her and I swatted them away from the food. If I see it I swat them Away from the food..Seems to be happening less. So I guess IM the bully.

What about when you're not there?