Chicken bullies

[jermoatc]

I just started my first go round with chickens last weekend. I got 2 blue laced red wyandottes (5 months old) and 2 buff orpintons (about a year old). They did great and got along well. Got my frst eggs on Friday. I picked up 2 12 week old EEs yesterday and put them in with the others. They are having a rough go of it as the older hens are pretty mean to them. Is this just part of establishing the pecking order or should I be concerned because they are so musch smaller than the other birds? How do I know when i need to intervene?

 

[scbatz33]

I intervene if it's relentless pecking. I have a cockerel who thinks he's big stuff, well he's big stuff to pick on one of the less confident boys (he knows better than to step outside his place). anyways, so he was relentlessly picking on my less confident boy....he was purposefully seaking him out. I tried interveneing with a quick brisk punt to the rear. That worked as long as I was standing there. but if I walked away or turned my back, he'd go abck and pick on the shy guy. So I put him in time out over night. He was crated in the coop. No contact with the other birds. He was so greatful to be back witht he flock, I've seen no problems since.

For yours, you probably needed a slower intorduction method. I like to use a large dog crate - the wire kind with open panels so the birds can see each other, get used to each other but can't get to each other completely. This gives them time to adjust before putting them all together. Especially since you have such a gap in ages.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've integrated chickens that age so it can be done. As was mentioned, get them used to each other first. There are a few other things that seem to help. Them having enough room is really important. The older ones will pick on the younger ones to set up the pecking order. If the younger ones have enough room to run away the pecking is usually not that bad. Occasionally you will have a hen that searches out the young ones to try to destroy them, but usually they just peck when they are in the vicinity. If you don't have a lot of room, make sure they have perches they can get to. When I lock mine in the coop and run, the ones lower in the pecking order spend a lot of time on the roosts, although they are a lot older than yours and have been well-integrated for months.

Try giving them different places to eat and drink. The older ones will often keep the younger ones away from the food and water. Some chickens have no problems sharing but many enforce their higher-in-the-pecking-order rights around the food and drink. If you can spread the food and drink out, it reduces conflict. Don't be surprised if the older chickens prefer the new feeding areas, even if it is the exact same food.

I find that bed time is another time that the pecking order is enforced. If you can, make sure they have plenty of roost space, maybe even as separate roost the young ones can go to.

I usually free range mine so my circumstances may be different than yours. I only intervene if there is blood or physical damage. In tighter space, I'd probably look more toward the relentless pecking also. The more room you have, the easier it is.

Good luck!