chicken bullying! :(

[momuv3]

A couple of weeks ago I added new chicks to my flock of older chicks. They pushed them around a bit so the little ones ran up into the hutch. 3 weeks later... and the the little ones will not leave the hutch unless I let the larger ones out of the coop. I have to put food and water up there or they will not eat or drink. Any suggestions on how to add peace to my little flock??

 

[rachlore]

Once they grow bigger they will stop getting picked on

 

[Den in Penn]

You have peace. The little ones are smart enough to stay away from the older ones. As rachlore said when they get bigger they will be able to defend themselves better. If there is a large size and age difference it will take awhile. When they are establishing the pecking order it can get rough. Eventually they all be one flock with sub flocks.

 

[bj taylor]

i found integration to take weeks. things have smoothed out, but my runt of the little ones is still subject to some pecking at times. chickens are a rough bunch some times.