Chickens attacking chicks

[coltgrizzz]

My 6 chickens (3 leghorns and 3 Isa browns) keep attacking my 2 chicks (1 Turken and 1 Plymouth Rock) who have been in the coop with them for a few months now. The 6 chickens we got together and are about a year old now and the chicks are around 5 months. We’ve integrated chickens in before, who have now been adopted, with no problem. Our chickens chase and bite them and now they hide in the back and sneak up to get food when the others are distracted. We’ve tried to put out separate water containers for them but our chickens knock them over and guard them. Any advice?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd put the ISA browns (or the most aggressive) in other housing for a few days.
Let the adolescents bond with the others.
Younger birds and fewer numbers is not good flock dynamics for the babies.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What does your coop and run look like, and how much space is there ("big enough" is not a number)? Sounds like you need multiple feed and water stations, as well as a number of obstacles so the younger birds can stand a chance of eating and drinking in peace. For 7 chickens I have 3 feeders (and just one waterer since guarding hasn't been an issue for me). Here's the layout of my run right now, so you can see the amount of stuff I have for the chicks/pullets to hide behind/around/under/over.

 

[coltgrizzz]

I'd put the ISA browns (or the most aggressive) in other housing for a few days.
Let the adolescents bond with the others.
Younger birds and fewer numbers is not good flock dynamics for the babies.

All of them seem to be aggressive towards the little ones sadly. We did have two other chicks but one passed away young and the other was a cockerel so he got adopted. I will try your idea but i’m just worried about winter since they’re pretty rough here.

 

[coltgrizzz]

What does your coop and run look like, and how much space is there ("big enough" is not a number)? Sounds like you need multiple feed and water stations, as well as a number of obstacles so the younger birds can stand a chance of eating and drinking in peace. For 7 chickens I have 3 feeders (and just one waterer since guarding hasn't been an issue for me). Here's the layout of my run right now, so you can see the amount of stuff I have for the chicks/pullets to hide behind/around/under/over.

View attachment 1514694

Wow that seems like a really nice coop! Mine is more square-ish since we used a large dog run. Our chicks like to hide behind their dust bath and the coop for safety but it’s not very close to food. We have tried to put another set of food and water dispenseries in but our hens always knock them over and get the water soiled. We have also tried this with extra nesting boxes, since we have one hen that is pretty territorial of them, and they’ve knocked them over as well. I’m going to try to make a little temporary raised nesting box so the two can get off the ground when necessary so in the meantime i can get things sorted out and separate the most aggressive chickens rosemary suggested. Should i try water dispensors that have a nipple on them?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

All of them seem to be aggressive towards the little ones sadly. We did have two other chicks but one passed away young and the other was a cockerel so he got adopted. I will try your idea but i’m just worried about winter since they’re pretty rough here.

The chicks will be fine come winter. They're both hardy breeds.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We have tried to put another set of food and water dispenseries in but our hens always knock them over and get the water soiled. Should i try water dispensors that have a nipple on them?

Nipple waterers might help if knocking over is an issue, as long as you have one that is either suspended or is secured against a fence or some sort of stand that can't be knocked over. Same goes for food... if knocking over is an issue, see if there's feeders that can be suspended or are at least less prone to falling over.