Flock Dilema

[confusedturtle]

Right now we have 2 RSL's, 1 BSL, and a BO/Wyandotte all 2 years old. I bought some RSL chicks back in March and recently tried to integrate them into my flock. The older hens were not happy. I managed to stop the pecking quick, but the hens would sit out there and bock (very loud almost like a honk) all day protesting the chicks. We aren't really allowed to have chickens but all of our neighbors are fine with them and don't complain. After 3 days I got tired of it and brought the chicks back in and the protesting stopped. The chicks were terrified they kept huddled in a corner for most of the time. Before the introduction I decided to give hatching eggs a try, I bought the incubator and am expecting eggs any day now. I wanted to keep one of each color (4 total) but now I have to worry about my hens attacking them. The biggest problem was my BSL terrifying the pullets & my protesting RSL. My question is do I get rid of the pullets and not keep any of the chicks (incoming eggs that I spent a lot of $$$ buying) or do I get rid of the trouble makers and keep the pullets and 4 of the incoming hatches? I know a woman who will happily take any that I cannot keep. She LOVES all of her chickens and lets them free range on her farm. Any of the hatchlings that I do not keep will be sold at a local poultry swap.

 

[donrae]

First, I'd wait longer before putting babies in with the hens. They should be roughly the same size so the chicks should be 4ish months. When I've put younger chicks in with hens, I've had dead chicks.

I don't know what to say about the vocal hens except to give them something to distract them from the newbies. Food is always a go-to, but just putting other things in the run like a piece of plywood leaned up against the fence or a bale of straw or something like that to take their minds off the littles.

If you're planning on hatching, it's a good idea to have a separate grow out pen for the chicks, after they're too big for the brooder but can't go in with the old meanies yet.

 

[confusedturtle]

I was afraid they were too young to put in there but they had been living in a bathroom we were going to renovate and it was a bad situation. I'm building a second, larger coop and thought if it didn't work out I'd put the chicks in there when its done. I'm really trying to decide which birds I should rehome, the new pullets or the trouble making hens. The hens quit protesting once we got the pullets out. My kids suggested keeping the older hens in their current coop and keeping the pullets and soon to be hatchlings in the new one.

 

[coryandangela06]

I just put 6 chicks (3 bsl and 3 isas) in with my 3 older isas and there adjusting not the greatest but it has been a week and none are hurt and all alive but the older ones are not found of the little ones. They free range when im home but the little's still stay in. Hopefully you can figure something out soon..

 

[confusedturtle]

I got a lot of progress on the new coop so they might be moving out very soon. I'm considering rehousing the trouble makers, the noisy might get us in trouble with our neighbors. The mean one did settle down but I'm not sure how long that'll last. I wanted to sell 2 of the chicks but that would leave 1 all alone, she is my favorite and I want to keep her.

 

[Mattemma]

I have mine in a playpen in the garage.Got tired of the dust in the laundry room. I waited till 16 weeks and then added my chickens to the older 3. I will do the same with my new chicks.My older three always dominated and pecked the younger ones.Got a roo to control them all,but the pecking order issue never really stopped. I say get rid of major problem ones,but accept that they will peck.