Combining Flocks - HORRIBLE PECKING ISSUE.......HELP!!!!

[MontanaChickenLady]

I have three 2 year old hens (Black Sexlink, Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire Red). The RIR is definitely the dominent hen. I have five 9 week old pullets (Black Sexlink, Black Austrolorp (was head chick), Speckled Sussex, two Buffs) that I've had to move out with the hens. It's gone only OK as the RIR goes after all the pullets from time to time. They all sleep in the small coop at night with the 5 pullets huddled together in one nesting box. I just put the pullets with the hens this past Friday.

MY BIG PROBLEM: When the 5 chicks were together as a flock by themselves there really weren't any problems. Now that the two flocks are together, one of the Buffs (possibly both) is pecking at the Black Austrolorp pullet to the point she's missing a lot of feathers on her back by the base of her tail and she's been bleeding. The Buff is actually eating the feathers. I've sprayed Blue Kote on her a number of times but she keeps getting pecked. I've tried separating the two Buffs (in a dog kennel within the compound) for a couple of hours but when they got out the one started pecking again. I've now put the Black Austrolorp in the dog kennel within the compound to protect her from being pecked. I absolutely do not know what else to try. I didn't have any of these issues with my very first flock and I'm at a loss. I'm afraid the Black Austrolorp is going to get pecked to death by one of the chicks in her own flock. I got two Buffs because I had been told they are so mild mannered and have a tendency to be picked on that I figured two would be strength in numbers. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?

 

[jtbuck]

You put them together too soon IMO. I put my 6 week olds with my 10 week olds same big pen, but the younger were in a pen for a few days then I let them mix while I could watch , separated at night.
It took about a week they are all together with the normal trying too be King Or Queen of the flock.
Separate them but try and monitor when they are together.

 

[Mrs. K]

you need to wait about 7 more weeks, it is too big of a size difference. You are going to wind up with something dead or severely injured.

A trick that might help is to divide the pen with pallets, or something similar, making sure the little chicks can get through, and the bigger hens cannot. Often times if they can get out of sight it will help.

But your current setup is a mistake.

 

[MontanaChickenLady]

I just want to be sure you understand my problem is chicks pecking on chicks.....not hens pecking on chicks. Does this information I've given change what you are telling me? Thank You!

 

[bobbi-j]

Do they have enough space? Can they get outside in a run or to free range? Maybe by combining the flocks, the younger ones got discombobulated and need to reestablish their pecking order? Without knowing your setup, it's hard to give any definite answers.

 

[nbenevento]

Sounds like they are over crowded to me but I don't know the size of the space. You could try to remove the most aggressive for a few days. By remove, I mean totally away from the rest so they can't even see each other. When you return her, she will be the new kid in town again. Also, if there is blood, you need to remove that one until she is healed. When the others see that red blood, all bets are off. They peck at the bloody area until she is dead.

 

[stevodod]

Separate again and see if the Aussie takes back her spot, if not, get her isolated and make sure she gets good care. Re-establishing pecking order involves the whole flock, and everything changes.