Hello everyone, Needed some urgent advice, Basically I hve had a lone cockerel for about a year and recently got two egg laying hens about 3 weeks ago. Introduced them straight away and they have formed a very united group until I got two new polish breed hens which are quite small in size as compared to the other three. Its been nearly a week now and the new ones are not showing any signs of getting along with the others including the rooster. The hens have been attacking the new ones which is understandable because of the pecking order. However, the rooster chases them all the time and attacks them violently most of the time. One thing I have noticed is the new ones dont like the rooster near them and run away whenever he approaches. I am not able to understand why they run away from him and as a result they are terrified and although free range in the yard; they hide all day long and hardly eat n drink which is a concern. One of them had been a regular egg layer at the previous place and has only laid once in a week. I wanted some advice on the fact that I was planning to get the rooster the new ones had been with at the previous place? will this help? will they still recognise him because its only been a week they've been away? I dont want to give them new ones back as they are v cute. Pls help Thanks
I don't know if this is the problem but, Polish chickens (silkies too) tend to get attacked and bullied because they look so different and are generally docile birds. Maybe keeping two separate flocks, and getting the rooster the new ones were used to would be a good idea. I would imagine the rooster and others terrorize the Polish in the coop and outside probably bully them away from food and water. Be sure to set out extra feed and water pans, so they can get enough to eat.
We're glad you joined us! I agree with drumstick diva. Good luck with your flock! I hope they get along better for you!
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. Good luck to you and your flock!
Hello and Welcome To BYC! It is best to have a long period of seeing but no touching when introducing new birds, through wire seem to work best, ie dividing the coop into two sections or keeping the new/younger ones in a cage inside the coup for a couple of weeks to a month at least. The chickens will get to know each other and sort of work out a pecking order before actually coming in contact with each other. Letting them free range together is a good idea and should help... It will take a couple of weeks to get the pecking order sorted out. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating flocks you might like to check out, the part about actually combining them is after the quarantine section https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock Crested Birds like polish or silkies are often have a problem in mixed flocks, they may have to be kept separated permanently.
Hello there and welcome to BYC! I agree with Kelsie here. You need to introduce new birds to a flock slowly. You can't just throw everybody together. First the new birds need to be at least 3 or 4 months of age before you can mix them in with adults or chicks can get hurt fatally. Keep the new birds in a cage or enclosure within in the flock for about 3 weeks. Everybody sees, nobody touches. This will allow for them to get accustomed to each other somewhat. Come mixing day the aggression should be less. Always put out more food and water stations for the new birds as the original flock can starve them out of food and water. And always intervene if it turns bloody. It can take months for new birds to fully be accepted by the original flock. Good luck and welcome to ours!
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