Flock dynamics

[HappyHandsHomestead]

Greetings. I bought three five-week-old chicks from a reputable hatchery to go with my lone pullet- who had just lost all of her beloved brothers because I cannot keep Roos in city limits- just over a week ago. When I got them, they were horribly pecked but had no visible wounds aside from having bare backs. They were stressed and running around crazy, and I almost did not take them because they were such a mess, but then I felt trapped because I didn’t want them to continue to suffer at the hatchery. Fast forward, and I’ve already gotten rid of one because I only wanted two and because this particular chick was intensely pecking at the two it came with. I have the other two housed in my coop with my big 13-week-old, and they are separated from her at all times. I have also had to separate my two babies because one of them is literally trying to pull out the less dominant one’s wings, and she cries out in pain. Now that they’re separated, the bully stands on the other side of the wire cage just waiting for a chance to peck at the other and it seems overly aggressive. Should I cut my losses and get rid of the aggressive baby or the one that’s being bullied? My older pullet definitely tries to peck at the babies, but I think that’s natural given that she’s been around longest and that they’re so small. Is this normal? Will things ever settle down? Everything was perfect with my first flock, until all but one turned out to be roosters. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.

 

[cavemanrich]

Keep what you have , but have them separated, within vision of each other. In a short while, you can start to integrate them together. (maybe week or two). Best to do it while they are free-ranging.
Eventually you will have one happy flock.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[HappyHandsHomestead]

Thank you. It’s been almost ten days and is worse now than it was when I brought the new chicks home. Is that normal?

 

[50-45-1]

Intigrating different age chicks can be challenging.
How much space do you have for your 3 chickens?
It sounds like they may need diversions. Things to scratch and peck thru. Things to do that take there mind off pecking on each other.
If your pullet contunues to bully, you could get some pinless peepers (vision gogles) and let her wear those for a month or more. She might decide companship is nice. Given time i think your chickens will bond as a flock.
Good luck!

 

[HappyHandsHomestead]

The pullet is coming around. She is not at all vicious with the babies, but she does peck at them and chase them. It’s just not rough, if that makes sense. She is trying to teach them how to roost, too, as I’ve found her night and morning hanging out with them on their roosting pole, and she’s very gentle then. It’s the Black Copper Marans baby that is a total a-hole. Is it too early to let them free range? They are so small. Maybe I’ll put the babies outside in a pen before I head to class, and at least they can all be together with something to do. I do think boredom might be an issue for the BCM, but not for the langshan baby who just wants to survive with some feathers.

 

[aart]

I bought three five-week-old chicks from a reputable hatchery to go with my lone pullet- who had just lost all of her beloved brothers because I cannot keep Roos in city limits- just over a week ago. When I got them, they were horribly pecked but had no visible wounds aside from having bare backs.

These two things don't really go together?

What size of coop and run setups do you have?
Dimensions and pics always help here.

It’s the Black Copper Marans baby that is a total a-hole. Is it too early to let them free range?

Might be a male?
Yes, too early. IMO....at 5 weeks they'd likely get picked off fast....or lost.


Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Noy]

Space, and what is in it, are very important factors to consider. Is there vegetation, branches, logs, or other things that can block visuals and help stop attacks? So if one is pecked, they have both enough space to get away AND something along the way that will make them disappear from sight of the attacker, thus helping to get the attacker to stop chasing.

I'm joining aart's questions and request for measurements of coop and run.

One other thing to think about - see if you can get them to do fun stuff together. Give them treats to eat (scatter widely, at first, so there's enough space between them), give them a cabbage to peck at, a pile of weeds with the roots and dirt ball, etc. A dirt bath would also be great.
The more cool stuff they have to do, the less they will be wanting to peck at the others.

That said, when we first got our first batch, one of my Sussex chicks at about 3-4 days old just would NOT STOP pecking at the other babies - aiming for their eyes! It would do little else - just walk around, looking for eyes to peck, pinching them and not letting go. He did not stay with us long... So I do think sometimes chicks are just messed up in some cognitive way or something...

 

[HappyHandsHomestead]

These two things don't really go together?

What size of coop and run setups do you have?
Dimensions and pics always help here.

Might be a male?
Yes, too early. IMO....at 5 weeks they'd likely get picked off fast....or lost.


Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1841804

I have a 100 SF converted wood shed that has a full wire mesh front and heavy doors that we close at night to keep predators away. I am still working on the run, but I let my pullet (13 weeks) free range our fenced yard during the day and she loves it. I haven’t let the chicks do so because I still don’t trust their size. But, I did let them spend most of the day in a sturdy temporary run, and they seemed to be overjoyed. They were much calmer and there was a lot less picking from the more aggressive chick. I plan to finish the run this weekend and let them out again tomorrow just as I did today. The older chicken has been almost perfectly behaved with them today as well. I sprinkled treats around the makeshift run and she stayed right next to the babies for most of the day. They all seemed to be happy. She is definitely coming around.

We’re located in Durham, NC. I just started an account and will update it with more info. Thanks for taking the time to share a screenshot with me! I will take a look And, it is hot here.

 

[HappyHandsHomestead]

Space, and what is in it, are very important factors to consider. Is there vegetation, branches, logs, or other things that can block visuals and help stop attacks? So if one is pecked, they have both enough space to get away AND something along the way that will make them disappear from sight of the attacker, thus helping to get the attacker to stop chasing.

I'm joining aart's questions and request for measurements of coop and run.

One other thing to think about - see if you can get them to do fun stuff together. Give them treats to eat (scatter widely, at first, so there's enough space between them), give them a cabbage to peck at, a pile of weeds with the roots and dirt ball, etc. A dirt bath would also be great.
The more cool stuff they have to do, the less they will be wanting to peck at the others.

That said, when we first got our first batch, one of my Sussex chicks at about 3-4 days old just would NOT STOP pecking at the other babies - aiming for their eyes! It would do little else - just walk around, looking for eyes to peck, pinching them and not letting go. He did not stay with us long... So I do think sometimes chicks are just messed up in some cognitive way or something...

Thanks for these ideas. We have a huge coop, so space isn’t an issue. But, I don’t think I’ve put enough fun things in it, or things for them to use as safe spaces, and I appreciate your suggestions for those. I’ll add some things tomorrow. I’ve seen measurable results today just with the fact that I put the babies out in a temporary run. They loved it and were much more relaxed all day.

 

[HappyHandsHomestead]

Here is a less than great photo of the coop. I have built roosting poles inside it, and I put in a nesting box, but there’s really not much else in there at all. Just a big, boring square...

The roosting poles aren’t visible in the photo, but they’re on the left. And, the chicken is standing in the doorway. There is a door that closes as well as heavy barn doors that we close at night. The back side is a super sturdy plexi-glass that we cut windows out of. And the roof is a very solid metal with clearstory-type openings. It’s a really solidly built structure, but I might still need to make some mods to make it more chicken-friendly.