Fighting.

[Erin80]

I have 9 hens and 2 roosters. They are pretty much 3 flocks within one. Two silkie hens and one rooster. One Ameraucana hen, one Icelandic hen and one Ameraucana rooster. Five barred rock hens. They all free range all day and stick to their groups. They sleep in the coop at night, on different roosts and seem to be fine in there until I go out around 7am to let them out.
Today there was a hawk sitting in a tree observing my chickens. I have never seen that before, so I quickly called my chickens into their run. My chickens aren't used to being contained, and my five barred rocks immediately ganged up on my smaller Ameraucana hen....I'm sure they would have killed her if I hadn't intervened. My smaller chickens (they are all smaller than the barred rocks) all stay away from them, and the BR's bully the others any chance they get.
The hawk sighting that close has me worried, but keeping them cooped up in their run/coop (they have access to both) is also making me worried because I'm afraid they are going to kill each other. They have been living together for 5 months now, but always free ranged so always had an "out" very easily. Though the run is a good size, they just can't get away the same way.
Not sure what to do?

 

[sourland]

Is there any way you can split your run and coop ? It appears that the barred rocks will present a problem especially once you get into winter and the birds are cooped up.

 

[Erin80]

I can, but is there a way I can help them to get along? Splitting the run would be a huge pain

 

[Lauren Kim]

Hi Erin!
There are a few things that you can do to fix this problem.

First of all, I would separate the smaller chickens from the bigger ones. It's never a good idea to keep them together, because bigger chickens tend to bully the smaller ones.

Also, if your Ameraucana hen is a little newer than the others, the boss chicken might have felt that she messes up the pecking order.

Extremely agressive chickens can kill a chicken that is younger than 8 weeks old. But I also have Barred Rocks, 4 of them, and the breed is known to be friendly but bossy, so keep an eye on them.

You should cage the bullies, so that they can still see each other but not touch each other. Yes, keep them in the same coop and keep the BRs there for a few days, but I have heard that this trick has worked for many chicken owners. When you let the BRs out, hopefully they will be friendlier.

And place the bullies on the roost AT NIGHT, so that they won't see the one that they are bullying when it's dark. Also, the target won't get very frightened.

Or, you could section off the coop- half BRs and the other half of the flock. Then they will also be able to see each other, and don't let them be together for at least a few weeks. Once you let them hang out with each other, they might get so used to each other that they won't even bully at all.

You should always have at least TWO of everything. Two feeders, waterers, roosts, etc. This will help them a lot so that they don't fight for anything.

Make sure that your chickens don't get bored because then they will start picking on the little ones for fun. Make sure they also have plenty of room to play in. Also, small hiding spots can't be a bad idea!

 

[Erin80]

Thanks!! We have 5 roosts in there for our three little flocks, and they all sleep on their separate roosts at night. My barred rocks are just over 6 months old, the rest of my chickens are between 4-5 months. The younger ones have been living with the barred rocks for months.
Maybe I should just split the coop and run for winter and give them each their own space. They don't have issues free ranging, it's just in the coop and run. It would be a pain but is so able.
My barred rocks are big....I don't know that my Ameraucana or Icelandic will be that big. The Icelandic definitely won't....she's pretty fine boned and petite.

 

[Lauren Kim]

Well, whether you separate them or not, they will eventually get along. Just try everything else besides the division of the coop. Maybe that will help. I hope that your Barred Rocks get along with your flock! I love your profile photo, by the way. Was it a photo of when your barred rock was a teen? Mine is a photo of Lily, which was took when they were about 2 and a half months old- she decided to jump on a branch of a tree, which shocked us!

 

[Erin80]

Yup, she was a teen in that picture! I'm not sure who that is though, lol. A few of them have obvious markings, but we banded their legs so we know who is who for sure.
I'd love them to all get along too. They are ok in the coop waiting for me to come out in the morning, but my Ameraucana's and Icelandic stay way up on their roosts until the big girls are out, and then they hop down and eat breakfast. We have two feeders in there, but they won't even come down until the big girls are out.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have found Barred Rocks don't suit me well. Every one I have had was to bossy for the others to deal with.

I agree with segregation if they have to be cooped up.
However I will add that yours are still young. They are likely at that "just started laying and feeling cranky" stage. It is possible they will mellow with age.

To help in the mean time perhaps adding things to keep them busy in the run will help.
Lean a board (plywood works well) up so any being chased can dive behind it and be out of sight. Be sure to secure it so it cannot blow over. If you add roosts in the run, hang an apple or half a small cabbage from a rope, a bale of straw strewn about works too. Things to keep the beaks busy doing other stuff then pecking the flockmates is important.

 

[Erin80]

Thanks!! I will definitely hang some apples up for them. We do have extra plywood so I could do that as well.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I keep a small feeder and water dish behind my plywood. That way any being run off the main dishes get a chance to eat.

Yup I still have a couple bullies. The Black sex links are my meanies. Not horrid but they do bully the cross beaked Orpington. Good thing she is friends with the Brahma.