Extreme pecking order: Killing!

[onthespot]

Lots of good info already posted. If you don't have extra pens to put whole flocks in while you slowly integrate, try pulling out the top two or three aggressors for a week while the new bird adjusts and once it is peaceful in the pen, add the new (old meanies) back in with the flock and they will be the newbies and not be looking to beat down any other hens, as they will be too busy finding their own place back in the flock. So sorry for your loss. That happened to me before with silkies. I should have known better but I lost two. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes because we like our chickens so much we think they like each other just as much... we forget they are chickens. At least that was what happened in my case.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Hey I got a great idea from a friend tonight.
She said to clip their upper beak and file it with a rasp so its slightly shorter than the bottom beak and they will be out of commission!
She said she does that with some of her turkeys when they start pecking too aggressively and their beaks grow back.
Boy oh boy am I gonna fix their wagons! BRATS!

 

[ChickenWisperer]

The most important thing to remember is that when you integrate, the birds ALWAYS need to be close in size.

Also, if Im not mistaken, the stress of integrating will effect younger birds more severely. Like previously stated, there is already great info posted!


I hope you can fix your problems, for I know how you feel! I tried to integrate my babies with my adults to soon, and because of my error, two of my babies are now dead.

Best of luck!