Chickens being mean

[Newfarmer36]

Don't beat yourself up about it, just chalk it up to a learning experience. I'm sure every member on here has made at least one mistake chicken keeping. Anyway, its best to do the see-but-don't-touch method for AT LEAST a couple weeks. Have the newbies in a separate area where your old flock can see them but not interact. Then if possible get them closer to where there is just a fence between them so they can somewhat interact without fighting. I like @aart's method of sprinkling some scratch along said fence to where they interact closely while eating but again not be able to fight. I did 2 weeks for each of those steps, then slowly let the new ones in with the established flock (an hour a day, then 2 hours a days, and so on) until I was certain they wouldn't kill each other. How old are the chicks you just bought?

I'm not sure.

 

[Trish1974]

I'm not sure either but I would think they'd be old enough to hold their own with proper integration. By the way, they are GORGEOUS!

 

[aart]

As long as no one is being bloodied or kept from eating and drinking, you're just going to have to wait it out. The new younger(?) birds won't merge into the main flocks pecking order until they reach point of lay.

Knowing more about your flock and coop would allow us to give you more specific advice if you wish.
What is your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
and your coop(size in feet by feet with pics)??


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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Newfarmer36]

I'm not sure either but I would think they'd be old enough to hold their own with proper integration. By the way, they are GORGEOUS!

They're are ameraucanas. Lavender, blue and black.

 

[Newfarmer36]

As long as no one is being bloodied or kept from eating and drinking, you're just going to have to wait it out. The new younger(?) birds won't merge into the main flocks pecking order until they reach point of lay.

Knowing more about your flock and coop would allow us to give you more specific advice if you wish.
What is your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
and your coop(size in feet by feet with pics)??


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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Oh goodness. The lady said the black one probably wouldn't lay until March! I have 5 hens( I had 4 but I just bought 1). I have a big maran(spelling?) Rooster. And a small one that goes with the hen I just bought. The lady wouldn't sell just the hen. She said that the hen was laying a few times a week but I haven't found any eggs yet. I'm assuming bc of stress. Please don't judge the coop! Lol! I was forced into having these chickens. So, I had to make due with what I had.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Oh goodness. The lady said the black one probably wouldn't lay until March! I have 5 hens( I had 4 but I just bought 1). I have a big maran(spelling?) Rooster. And a small one that goes with the hen I just bought. The lady wouldn't sell just the hen. She said that the hen was laying a few times a week but I haven't found any eggs yet. I'm assuming bc of stress. Please don't judge the coop! Lol! I was forced into having these chickens. So, I had to make due with what I had.

Sorry. The last pic is of the pig pen. The pig is another one that I was forced to have. Here's the pic of the back part of the coop.

 

[Newfarmer36]

And this pic isn't mine but this is the chicken feeder thing that I have. I used a 5 gallon pickle bucket and an oil pan.

 

[aart]

Nice big coop, that'll help.
So how many were you 'forced ' to take before you added the 2(?) bantams and now the 3 Ameraucanas?
I'm still not clear on birds ages, genders, and when you got them and added.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you are excitable take a Prozac and then watch your hens and roosters put themselves to bed. I can guarantee you that when choosing a roosting place that it isn't first come first served in a flock of chickens. The pecking order is viciously enforced at bed time more so than at any other time of the day.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Nice big coop, that'll help.
So how many were you 'forced ' to take before you added the 2(?) bantams and now the 3 Ameraucanas?
I'm still not clear on birds ages, genders, and when you got them and added.

12 hens: 8 were either killed by something or stolen. Im not sure which.
2 roosters: I gave 1 away.
2 black silkies(I think that's what they are called: my big maran rooster kept pecking on them until they eventually died.
And 2 small speckled batams( I'm not sure of the name. Someone told me but I forgot): both are missing.
All of these were bought together as chicks. They're about a year old.

5 ducks and a pig were also left behind for me to tend to. 4 of the ducks are also missing.