Chickens Not Getting Along!!! Please Help!

[briter30]

I have had 3 Easter Egger chickens for 5 months. We decided to get 3 new chickens almost a week ago. The first 2 days, we took the new chickens and put them in a chicken tractor next to the chicken run where our chickens stay. Then for 3 days, we put the new chickens inside the run inside an EX-LARGE dog. Today, we let them inside the chicken run/coop (run is 12 x 8). My original chickens won't let them eat or drink. They chase and peck them and pull out feathers. Will this most likely improve or not?


Note: One of the new chickens is the same size as my original chickens and the other 2 are a little smaller and younger.

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[wyododge]

Put your old chickens in the cage and let the new chickens in the run for a day or so. Then introduce on old chicken at a time so she is out numbered. If she goes after a new chicken smack the crap out of her, let the new chickens intimidate the old one a little, but not to much. Rinse and repeat with each chicken separately. Then two, then three. The idea is to have the new chickens gain confidence in their new surroundings before they have to confront dominance and protect themselves.

But they will always peck and fight, your job as the main chicken is to keep it civil not remove it completely. And remember, ain't a thing in the world wrong with a boot to the chest to the little creep who just thinks she is the queen. My wife sets them straight, and does not fool around when she does it.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Another way is to just add another feeder/waterer for a few weeks til they have established a new pecking order. Every time you introduce new chickens this same behavior will go on, it's what chickens do. Ways to lessen it are to add more than one new one at a time and add the 2nd food/water areas so all can get to them at some point during the day and to make sure they are as close to age and size as they can be.

Also, a bit late for this crew but you should ALWAYS quarrantine new chickens for at least 3 weeks or longer before introducing them to your established flock. I usually do mine 6 weeks just because I've had friends that introduced them sooner and had catastrophic results from passed on illnesses. Some do even longer than that.

Good luck

 

[chickchicks]

you have to quarentine chickens

i just got two new ones about 17-19 weeks old and the farmer told me to stick them straight in and watch to make sure they dont get too bullied as there gong to be bullied as there new .

i hope nothing happens to them now im all worried.

- mine are fighting quite a lot too as i was told to let them jsut get onwith it.
i watch them wheni can and have made it so that the new ones can jump on to the roost /shelf to get a way as the others are BO and too heavy to even try and jump - hey have never done it yet so im hoping they dont try either.

i have a 6*4 shed and a 5*4 run i think maybe a little bigger. there is 2 food and 2 water oneof each on the shelf where only the new ones can get to

they do jump down and they get pecked .
the head of the flock peckd them on the back of the neck and thats it but the other one and the three babies (from the head flock) really pelt in they have pulled the odd feather and jump on the back s

is this normal?

sorry for adding in here !

 

[AngelzFyre]

Quote:
You're fine for adding in

Yes! It's normal for them to fight to establish pecking order

. They can get really mean though and you will have to watch to make sure they don't pick on one til it dies! Usually if there's enough room, enough food/water they'll work it out...but some may never get along and then you'll have to make other arrangements so that they don't get killed.

YES, you need to quarrantine new chickens! By tossing them right in, you risk getting an entire flock ( or flocks) infected with any disease the new ones are carrying, and some diseases once on your place, can't be gotten rid of. Your chickens would always be carriers of the disease.
By keeping them separated you can watch for any illness or failure to thrive and treat them and make sure everyone is healthy before adding to the main flock.

Same thing even if these are the only chickens going into a coop...make sure they are well and healthy before putting into a coop so that they don't contaminate it if they aren't.

Of course...I know not all people do this, but if you'll search on BYC you'll see thread after thread of what happens when you don't. Personal preference as always...

 

[stubbornhill]

Chickens are certainly mean to each other and some times I think it looks exceptionally brutal to us humans. Our last "add-ins" took over a week of actually being together before things calmed down. But they are finally being accepted although at the bottom of the pecking order. They'll be OK. Congrats on your new birds!

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Ahhh! There's your problem. The new chickens probably still smell of EX-LARGE dog. If you'd put them inside a small dog, such as Bichon or a Miniature Schnauzer, they probably would have gotten along splendidly, but old chickens never like new chickens that smell like Great Dane or Saint Bernard or Irish WolfHound. Never.

 

[smkchick]

But seriously, I was wondering about introducing my three new chicks to my slightly older hen when the time comes. Will it go easier because the older one will be outnumbered right from the start?

 

[chickchicks]

Quote:
You're fine for adding in

Yes! It's normal for them to fight to establish pecking order

. They can get really mean though and you will have to watch to make sure they don't pick on one til it dies! Usually if there's enough room, enough food/water they'll work it out...but some may never get along and then you'll have to make other arrangements so that they don't get killed.

YES, you need to quarrantine new chickens! By tossing them right in, you risk getting an entire flock ( or flocks) infected with any disease the new ones are carrying, and some diseases once on your place, can't be gotten rid of. Your chickens would always be carriers of the disease.
By keeping them separated you can watch for any illness or failure to thrive and treat them and make sure everyone is healthy before adding to the main flock.

Same thing even if these are the only chickens going into a coop...make sure they are well and healthy before putting into a coop so that they don't contaminate it if they aren't.

Of course...I know not all people do this, but if you'll search on BYC you'll see thread after thread of what happens when you don't. Personal preference as always...

thank you very much now i can remember this for the future. i just thought that cause the farmer told me to do so that is what i was supposed to do ( first time for me!)

i guess its too late now as they all have pooped and eat anddrank from the same things so ill keep my fingers crossed. if anything does happenwhat is the best action to take ?
as i do put the ACV in the water
imnot sure what gets rid of chicken colds etc

 

[gocyndygo]

I'm having a slightly different problem. I have 3- 12 wk eggers, and 3- 8 wk old blue sapphires. I have a small portable coop so each set went from brooder box to tiny coop. Then the big ones went into the big coop when it was done. When each set was in the tiny coop they were in a pen outside during the day. At 7 wks the younger ones pen was moved close for a couple days, everything seemed good. Put the tiny coop in the run for 2 days, younger in at night but in pen during day. Day 3 let young out 15 minutes before older. Checked on them later- 3 big ones were in tiny coop, little ones in big coop. 4 days later they kind of get along but older head chicken still doing some bullying. Just wondered if I should put little ones in pen during day, provide more hiding spots, or what? How long of bickering before I should be concerned? I have 3 feed stations, 2 watering stations.