Chicken ‘Blinders’ - Effective? Humane?

Magpyeone

Chirping
Oct 9, 2018
16
57
79
Pleasant Valley New York
So I’ve tried integrating four of my oldest chicks (about 10 weeks) with my four existing, 3 yr. old hens, 2 Americanas and 2 Dominiques. I kept the younger ones in a large dog crate next to the coop during the day for about a week, then we put them together and crossed our fingers. Of course, things didn’t go very well. All the older hens chased and pecked at the smaller ones, but one Dominique in particular was very aggressive (which I thought strange, since the Americanas are the top of our little pecking order), and I started seeing beak damage/blood on my younger chicks, so I put the problem hen in ‘chicken jail’ for a few days, but it made no difference. The smaller chicks wouldn’t go near the food or watering stations, which the hens continually circled, so we added extra food and watering stations in the areas where the chicks tended to congregate/hide. We decided to try pinless peepers on the 4 hens. Initially they still tried to chase the younger chicks, but couldn’t seem to successfully peck or harm them. The younger ones still avoid the older hens, but everyone is eating, drinking and roosting, which is good. My concern is, I have 3 5-week old chicks, one of which is an Americana Rooster (he was a ‘surprise’), and another 3 chicks that are 1-3 weeks old in another brooder. Can I keep the peepers on the hens throughout this integration process? I feel like if I took them off today, we’d be back in the same boat, and I’ve heard of people leaving them on for months, but I don’t know if that’s humane? Our brooders aren’t very big and the chicks are outgrowing them too quickly, but I’m afraid they’re still too small to go in with the larger birds...
 
I'd leave the Pin Less Peepers on until all of the young birds have reached their full size. Very frequently it is the lower ranked birds that are most aggressive - It's an attempt to keep from being forced even lower in the pecking order.
 
Way more human than letting the littles get pecked bloody. They'll be fine.

Always solve for peace in the flock, leave them on for a couple more weeks. However, I have noticed that the more often you add, the less drama it is. And extra hideout or safe spots for food an water are also a help.

Try putting a pallet up off the ground, not too high, and feed under it, have a water there too. Chicks can get there, old biddy's can't.

Mrs K
 
0524210742_HDR.jpg


0524210742.jpg


This is what I did to give the Splits their protected space once I started to allow them to mix with the Ladies.

This is the thread I made about it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integrating-the-splits-documenting-the-process.1469700/
 
All great advice. I am experiencing the bottom of the pecking order hen being the most aggressive.

I've done the look and see but no touch for over 2 weeks and I can say its made a big difference. I can see the aggression is not what it once was initially. The chasing and aggression is not what it once was. I am still keeping them separate a bit longer till they get a bit bigger. I also think allowing them to free range a bit together got them a bit more acquainted and has helped much.
 
My concern is, I have 3 5-week old chicks, one of which is an Americana Rooster (he was a ‘surprise’), and another 3 chicks that are 1-3 weeks old in another brooder.
OhBoy, that's gonna be 'fun'.
I would try to get the 2 youngest groups integrated now.


You probably want to give them a longer see-don't-touch period.

How much space do you have? And how many chickens total?
Ditto Dat!
Yes, please, @Magpyeone ,
dimensions and pics of your set up would help immensely here.

Here's some 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/
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom