Flock attacking Mama Hen

[sharondoright]

Had you kept mama and chicks separated from flock until she weaned the chicks?
**Mama was separated with babes for almost a week. Then I made a space in the enclosed roost area - entry hatch has a platform so I leaned wood against platform, put her nest bucket under with water/chick starter food under. gave room to run and flap a bit, while giving them privacy. Mama could have gone out the chicken hatch at any time. Flock roosted in that area all along. When babes started coming out to larger yard on their own, I opened the walk-in roost doors each day to encourage mama to join them. She did for a couple of weeks before the trouble started. I was providing a second food / water source during that time (and still) because babes couldn't reach feeder, etc.

How many birds total and how big are the 3 interconnected spaces?

***I have 11 hens who have been together peacefully for a year. 6 original red hens from 2 years ago, 5 mixed standard sized hens added as fledglings last year. all had gone great. We did have a rooster raised with 2nd group - he was relocated a few months ago (May?) and was quite aggressive***For today, I have put mama in the covered coop (16x16), red queen and her BFF into the 10x80 run, and rest of flock is in the old area. There is a hardware cloth separation between part of the new/old coop. large run is separated by a wooden fence, but they can see thru cracks between boards, and still hear each other. I will catch the "nanny" today and let her be with mama (supervised) to provide support / company. The babes can get into either of the coop areas through small openings.

Dimensions and pics would help here.

Old coop is raised 8x4 with 2 nest boxes set inside a fenced area of about 18x30. all were fine together there, but I wanted to give more laying space, more shade, etc. so I built 16x16 covered / contained coop area within that 18x30 fenced space. new coop area has a 4x16 walled off area within it for roost. So ... main space is now the large covered 16x16, the original (remaining space) of 18x14. From original space, I have a hatch that opens to a 10x80 run. I will try to add pics below

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.

Yes - I know they will "bicker" and do chicken stuff. But this has transformed from normal to complete attack. The mama hen just gives up and lays down as several other hens jump on her and attack. She has space to get away, hide out, etc., but just doesn't even bother anymore. It seemed at first as though the hens were separating mama from the babes, but nobody was nasty to babes. Now they keep her from food and water. Hence, I put her in a safe place with her own food / water but she does have access to integrate with flock if she chose. Yesterday, when I went to check on things in afternoon (I often also bring treats), she jumped down from her hidey-hole and was promptly attacked.

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

I do have all food / water in one area. I will put out additional feeding / watering sources.

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.

**1st Pic is from inside new coop - can see the screened area looking into original coop / yard space. 2nd pic is original coop/yard, can see the start of construction for new coop area (posts/roof beams)

 

[Mrs. K]

One of the things I notice in your run, is while there is space, a bird in any spot of the run is in view of other birds, there is no way to get out of sight of the other birds, and the ladder is the only use of the vertical space.

Leaning up a pallet against the wall in a couple of places would help. Connecting the ladder to a post with a roost bar would also help. A pallet up on blocks, so that birds can get under or on top, just makes the run and space more useable and comfortable for chickens.

You might try pin-less peepers on the top wicked girls.

Then if all that does not help - cull something. Tension is telling you you have too many birds for this set up. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[sharondoright]

One of the things I notice in your run, is while there is space, a bird in any spot of the run is in view of other birds, there is no way to get out of sight of the other birds, and the ladder is the only use of the vertical space.

Leaning up a pallet against the wall in a couple of places would help. Connecting the ladder to a post with a roost bar would also help. A pallet up on blocks, so that birds can get under or on top, just makes the run and space more useable and comfortable for chickens.

You might try pin-less peepers on the top wicked girls.

Then if all that does not help - cull something. Tension is telling you you have too many birds for this set up. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

THanks. I am isolating mama with a friend inside big covered run, adding another hen every couple of days. I was just telling husband I need to add a 2nd roost bar in new space so dominant hens can roost higher. My 16’ roost has one long bar at one height. I was noticing when mama is being picked on in there, she goes to ground, and the aggressor gets on roost above her. Most of this all started when I got rid of nasty roo And moved to new coop space. I will add some interesting places for them. They roam on 1300 sqft so should be more than enough ground space. But for sure I can’t see you mean.

 

[aart]

My 16’ roost has one long bar at one height.

You could put up partitions along that roost.
I've seen a few but can't find any to link now.

 

[pennyJo1960]

or I use tables out pallets then never have fights they are all the same height

 

[sharondoright]

Just a follow up - After separating mama, dominant hens, and rest of flock (3 areas), and reintroducing a new hen with mama every couple of days, all was going well. After most hens were back together, I let dominant mean girl back and it wasn't 15 minutes before she went right back to attack on mama, and many of her sisters joined in. I have given away all the red hens to an egg farm locally. I now have just 4 mature hens, with the 8 teenager hens, and all are happy as can be. I also added 2nd / 3rd feed and water options, and some additional hiding holes, and outdoor roost options for daytime entertainment. Thanks for all the suggestions. I would have liked to make it work, but am happy that the mean girls are now in a new flock.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Wow well good for you Sharon took moxy to send her off I understand that

 

[aart]

I have given away all the red hens to an egg farm locally. I now have just 4 mature hens, with the 8 teenager hens, and all are happy as can be.

Hard decision but the resultant peace makes it all worth it. Kudos!

BTW...
FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Mrs. K]

Always solve for the peace of the flock, and once you do, you wonder what took you so long to do it! Good for you. Not every bird will work in a flock. It is a hard concept for people who love animals, but it is a truth in a chicken flock and one you can't really change.