I have a large coop that I have my three Silkies in (they are about 7-8 months old) They get along great aside from the odd "get out of my way" peck. About a month ago I picked up 2 Buff Brahma hens and put them in with the Silkies, but in less than a minute there was a fight so I took them out and made a large pen with chicken wire inside the coop thinking they may just need some time get to know everyone. I have tried a few times since to put them together but they still end up fighting, most of the time my Silkie's start it. Is this just pecking order sort of thing... not shure if I should let them get it out of their systems or not, just don't want any of them to get hurt. Is this normal when putting new chickens in a coop?
Do you have a run, or do you just free-range them? If you are free-ranging, that is the time to let them mingle and get to know one another. If you have an adequate run that they are in all the time, they are just going to have to squabble it out in the run. I like to let them see each other for 3 weeks before integration, and make sure they have 2 feeders and waterers, and lots of things to hide under and behind.
The pecking order will be quickly become established if you put them together and leave them alone for a couple hours. There could be a bit of blood, but usually not anything that becomes life threatening. The bantam silkies can be quite aggressive at times, and are usually the ones that start the fight. This is natural behavior, and happens with all species of animals. Happens with humans too, but we are just more subtle about it. Except for my wife, who exerts her dominance over me multiple times each day.
Quote:LOL! I hear you on that, my wife makes shure I always know who is boss haha. Thank you all, I will put a couple straw bales in for them to hide behind and let them do their thing.
