Bullying

[Pugsiehens]

Hi I’ve just got a new 5/6 week old glwd cross. She’s getting bullied by my other 3 pullets. I’ve tryied scarper spray doesn’t seem to be working. I’ve also brought bits turf in to take the other birds away from little one that didn’t last long tho currently sat with a water pistol spraying them when they go to bully the new chick.

 

[hysop]

Did you introduce them through a cage or pen side by side. Or did you just throw them together?

No matter the age, they must have a week or two of “look but can’t touch” to familiarize themselves with the newcomer.

 

[Pugsiehens]

Did you introduce them through a cage or pen side by side. Or did you just throw them together?

No matter the age, they must have a week or two of “look but can’t touch” to familiarize themselves with the newcomer.

Not for that long weekend. She also has some where to hide where the others carnt get to her

 

[hysop]

How did you introduce them before putting them together?

I would have waited at least a week or two. You can try it now and keep her within eyesight of the others but secure enough where they can’t get it.

It would have to be a cage where they can see it all the time not a covered box for it to hide in.

I made a cage out of pvc pipes and chicken wire and placed it in the run with whoever I wanted to integrate for a week or two before letting them mingle.

Also, whenever you bring an outside bird to your home, always quarantine it because you don’t know what type of parasites they have from their old housing. It’s too late to quarantine this one, but just as a future reference

 

[aart]

There no magic spray that will correct bad habits.
Weekend not long enough.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might these tips 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/