Feather plucking and attacks by new dominant hens

[VlkStinu]

Hi everyone!

I have this particular problem now - I recently (on Tuesday) added 3 new hens to my existing flock of 3 hens (they were originally 5, but sadly two died recently) of 1 dominant and 2 submissive hens. The new hens, though rescued from commercial cages as the original flock, are in much better condition and are stronger than the original flock.

So what happened is that the new hens (there are two dominant and one maybe submissive) started to show their dominance over the original flock members - they essentially took over the coop and made the original members spend most of their time outside even when it's cold (I am sure some of them would normally hide in). But what concerns me most is that when I let them out in the morning, not only I find lot of feathers inside the coop, I can also clearly see blood on the original hens where their newly growing feathers has been plucked. It's usually on the tail and above the tail on the back. The most affected seems to be the previously dominant alpha female. She had really a lot of blood on her tail today and I was thinking I need to do something about it, but I really don't know what can be done.

They are roosting together, but I can see that the original flock members are a bit hesitant to come in - last night I found one hen roaming outside and the previously alpha female sitting right in the entrance to the coop, roosting there and blocking the path for this wandering hen.

I thought I need to wake up before they do to open the coop and prevent any plucking, which I did today, but the wounds were still there, so I am thinking whether it is not the infrared heating lamp that is turning on and off during the night at various intervals that wakes them up and ignite these skirmishes. Though I remember coming there at night, checking them and they were mostly quiet. But other than that, I don't know what's going on in there of course and I have no control over it.

I understand the problem is that they are in confined space and have no means to escape these dominance outbursts, but I don't see a solution there as the doors are closed to keep the heat in an not let rodents or any predators in.

I tried adding dried fish powder to the feed as it's supposed to calm down the aggressive behavior, but it didn't seem to help.

I have a coop made for up to 8 hens, so while it's not huge, I would say there is enough space for everyone. Although probably not if you want to run away and hide from an attacking hen...

So is there anything I can do to solve this? I was reading on multiple coops but I don't suppose that's a good idea right? Or is this because a new pecking order is being formed and once it does, it will calm down? I really don't want the original hens to suffer.

 

[VlkStinu]

Ok so I think I've figured it out. I've been thinking about it a lot and from my observations, I realized that the problem has to be the infrared lamp that is turning on during the night. I was reading somewhere that the light doesn't disturb the hens and they can sleep, but I think it is activating them and waking them up and since the coop is closed, that's when they focus on the growing pins of the original flock members and they peck on them. It's not a problem during the day so I need to focus on the night - and I need to provide heat with ceramic lightless bulb. They will get the heat, they will sleep in the dark and there is no way for them to focus on plucking and pecking since they won't be able to see anything (and since they will be asleep).

So I am purchasing the new bulb as soon as possible and I am confident that will solve the whole issue (with me waking up before them and letting them out soon).

 

[lovesfarms]

I feel your pain! Trying to figure out the problem without being able to read the hens minds! I to have a bossy lady (20wks old) who constantly tries to upset the pecking order that has been established. She wreaked havoc in the pen after a Fox started roaming the neighborhood. My pen is a little on the small side but by giving extra roosts and veggies etc to keep them occupied, plus allowing them to free range two hours a day, things worked out. But since the Fox sightings, they were scared to free range even with me at their side. I think this lack of exercise made them fight in their pen. One started pulling feathers out of the other hens. I enlarged their pen and I think some one got the Fox because I don't see him anymore. They free range again for an hour in the morning and evening and things are ok. I hope you are able to resolve the problem because it sure doesn't feel good!!

 

[aart]

I have a coop made for up to 8 hens, so while it's not huge, I would say there is enough space for everyone.

How big is this in meters by meters or feet by feet?

Although probably not if you want to run away and hide from an attacking hen...

Well, that's pretty important.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[VlkStinu]

I feel your pain! Trying to figure out the problem without being able to read the hens minds! I to have a bossy lady (20wks old) who constantly tries to upset the pecking order that has been established. She wreaked havoc in the pen after a Fox started roaming the neighborhood. My pen is a little on the small side but by giving extra roosts and veggies etc to keep them occupied, plus allowing them to free range two hours a day, things worked out. But since the Fox sightings, they were scared to free range even with me at their side. I think this lack of exercise made them fight in their pen. One started pulling feathers out of the other hens. I enlarged their pen and I think some one got the Fox because I don't see him anymore. They free range again for an hour in the morning and evening and things are ok. I hope you are able to resolve the problem because it sure doesn't feel good!!

Thank you very much for sharing your experience and for the encouraging words! My hens have free range, they have the whole garden for their disposal. So they have plenty of everything, it's really just the night that gets complicated and I am quite confident it will be resolved by the lightless heat source.

 

[VlkStinu]

How big is this in meters by meters or feet by feet?

Well, that's pretty important.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Thank you very much for the informative post!

The problem is really that during the night, they are closed in the coop. And when they get activated by the infrared lamp, the bullying starts. No lamp, no reason for the new hens to pick on others since it's going to be dark and they will be asleep. And once they wake up, I will already be there to let them out, thus preventing the "confined space with no escape" situation.

Also once the original flock hens will regrow their feathers, the pins will disappear (so the new hens won't be triggered to peck it), the pecking order will be set and hens will get used to one another - I am hoping it will be resolved all together.

I will try it today by not lighting the lamp, hopefully it won't get too cold during the night (I've set up a wireless thermometer in the coop to check). And if all goes well, I will have the ceramic lightless bulb on Tuesday.

 

[VlkStinu]

So I can confirm that the infrared light during the night was the issue! There were no signs of plucking and hens had no blood on them today in the morning for the first time.