Cochin too docile for flock?

[traco]

I know there is always a pecking order. And can change ... but I just tried introducing a blue Cochin 12 weeks old to my flock and I think she may be too docile for my flock?

I've got three 5 month olds, light brahma, buff Orpington, speckled Sussex and two the same age as this new one, 9 weeks old. I placed her in with the others at dark last night, went just now to see how it was going. The poor little thing had her head hiding under the perimeter board with the two adult hens just pecking and pulling feathers. I got her out and placed her by the feed. The Sussex then pecked and pulled feathers from her. She just stood there. I moved her away and then the two same age ones grabbed her neck feathers and she again just stood there. I picked her up and moved her to a crate so she can drink and eat.

Is she too docile for my flock? If she won't even run away from the others? Best to return her?

Thanks.

 

[rIrs roost]

I had a silkie like that. I put him in a cage inside the coop so they could see him but not touch him. I would go out everyday when the others were free ranging and let him out with them. I allowed a little pecking but stepped in when it got out of hand and just kelp doing that. Eventually things got a lot better.

 

[DakotaDreamer]

I agree with rIrs roost. I put my pullets in at 18 weeks of age so you might want to try when she is a little older as well.

 

[traco]

Thank you. My husband said the same ... to put in a crate and let others get used to her. I was just worried that the poor little girl just stood and took it, she didn't even try and run away.

 

[rIrs roost]

Thank you. My husband said the same ... to put in a crate and let others get used to her. I was just worried that the poor little girl just stood and took it, she didn't even try and run away.

That's exactly what my silkie did. You'd never know it know. And dakotadreamer is right. When it gets a little older things should start getting better too. Just keep and eye on them when they're all out. And step in if needed. I hate introducing new birds. But it gets better after a while.

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

I don't think it's necessary that she's too docile, just that she was added into the flock new. Chickens always bully each other when they're new. Some tips for adding new chickens are...
1) Try to add multiple from the same flock at a time so when they're added to yours, they can be friends.
2) Add them while they're young, so sorting out the pecking order won't be as hard.
3) Keep them close, but not in the same pen for the first weeks. Do this by separating them with a fence, but have them still next to each other.
4) Try to avoid getting new chickens that are sick or could be carrying sickness that your chickens aren't immune to. Remember that although chickens may not be showing signs of a sickness, they might still be carrying it.

I hope this helps!

 

[Chickassan]

Adding just one is always hard.Crate her until she decides she wants to try to roost with the others, even then stick around for a bit to make sure she gets a spot and isn't getting too much hassle. Get up early and check on things so the chickens dont have much idle time. You might have to this for quite a while until the sizes are more even.

 

[traco]

I'll go and get some chicken wire and make a pen for her and put inside the run. That way, it has more room than the crate and everyone can see everyone.

I knew when I had picked up the other two Sussex the week before I should have bought her too. Nativity told me I could get her this week and it would all be good with integration. All the chickens I have bought are from one source so not worried about disease ... he also has not brought in any new birds.

 

[Chickassan]

It's never easy lol! I have to crate four ten week olds every night because they are no way big enough to roost with the big kids. They range together fine but bedtime is a thunderdome kind of event chickens only see size not age so you got to bulk them up like prize fighters just so everyone gets a decent nights sleep.

 

[traco]

I now know why the week before when I added the 2 other little ones, there was not much fighting. They kept together and would run away from the three big ones.

I thought about getting two yesterday as a friend to integrate together. We have a 12 x 6 run so that would be stretching it for square footage? 10 square feet per chicken?