Flock attacking Mama Hen

[sharondoright]

Hi all! Thanks for helping me with my surrogate mama / day old chicks back in June. All are thriving, independent little teenagers now. Problem is the mama. When chicks started venturing into larger chick habitat, Mama stayed behind in the roost area. I continued to provide water and food for her / the chicks there for quite a while. Then I noticed recently that queen hen and her BFF guard the entry to the roost. They were not allowing mama in the chicken door. They are also keeping her confined to roost during day. Nobody hassles the chicks, but it has escalated to the point that several hens attack mama the minute she shows her sad little face. She is so overwhelmed, she simply lays there and takes the beating. I have 3 chicken areas all connected. I have isolated the queen hen, the whole flock, etc. to give mama a chance to stretch her legs and be a chicken. Right now, she is hanging out in my old coop and seems fine unless she comes down from the coop into the chicken yard. I have space to keep isolating, but it isn't ideal. I let queen's BFF into yard with mama today, and it wasn't long before she was on the attack as well. I don't want to cull anyone, but feel like mama deserves to stay, as she did a stellar job raising the new chicks. Queen is one of the original hens, and would be my choice to remove, if needed. HOWEVER... now that the behavior seems to be flock wide, is there hope to reintegrate mama to the flock, or is it kinder to cull her instead. Thanks!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Need to take the queen and one other high ranking bird out 4 day take another put it with Mama hen keep them 2 days let those two back in leads go back day 4

 

[sharondoright]

OK! So, I have one hen who was almost the nanny with mama. Mama was tolerant of her near chicks from very early. She is low on the pecking order, as well. I considered putting her and mama together, and then integrating another lower bird back with mama, kind of one addition at a time. I will put nanny out with mama tonight in old coop, then tomorrow arrange for queen and BFF to be alone for a week. I just hate to see this behavior sweep the crowd. THANKS!

 

[sharondoright]

do you think it is ok to swap them out in the same space... put queen and BFF in space 1 for morning, then move them into space 2, and let another group into space 1 for afternoon, or would you completely separate them out of sight / ear shot for that time

 

[pennyJo1960]

Separate the lead 2 for 4 days no hearing or seeing if possible

 

[pennyJo1960]

Keep lead apart for 4 day it resets them in lead order gets her in safely she should have been allowed back with the peeps

 

[pennyJo1960]

Always easier to bring in two at time yes

 

[sharondoright]

Keep lead apart for 4 day it resets them in lead order gets her in safely she should have been allowed back with the peeps

THank you. No see/hear will be difficult, but will make it happen. Mama had choice to go with chicks... she did go with at first, but started staying hidden ...

 

[pennyJo1960]

You may find that the two that are taken out drop a bit in rank being gone also
taking two they can come back being not picked on

 

[aart]

Had you kept mama and chicks separated from flock until she weaned the chicks?

How many birds total and how big are the 3 interconnected spaces?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Big spaces with lots of diversions and hiding places are best.

Some of these might help?
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.