Hello from Minnesota!

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kubotalady

kubotalady

In the Brooder
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Hi BYC-
I live in the Twin Cities metro area of MN. Between my sweetie and I, we have three small flocks (one group of five three year old girls, one group of four small girls (two silkies, a Polish, and a bantam) that were getting so beaten up by the big girls that we separated them, and then a separate flock of five year old hens- two Silver Wyandottes, a Cuckoo Marans, and Americuana (?) and I think a red sex link. The last two flocks have been free ranging together successfully for the past couple of months, and we are in the process of building a bigger coop and integrating them). I have turned to this site frequently over the past couple of years, looking for answers to various questions (usually health related), and am finally taking the plunge and joining!
Thanks in advance for all the help you have already provided and doubtless more to come, and stay tuned for some exciting upcoming parasite questions! Hopefully I can add a thing or two to the conversation too.
:)
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Sorry about your flock aggression issues. Sometimes no matter what we do or how slowly we introduce new birds to a flock, they just don't get along. And especially if there are size differences or breed differences like Silkies or those with TopHats.

Adding more space definitely helps curb the boredom and anxieties in the flocks and of course giving them things to do like hanging veggies, seed pecking blocks, mirrors, ladders swings, etc...things to keep busy. And of course some free ranging time helps to burn off excess calories they might use to peck at one another.

Sometimes pinless peepers can help with aggression. Jail time can help too. But if all else fails, you may need to keep some separate from the others.

Always introduce new birds slowly to a flock. Keep newbies on the other side of a fence or in an enclosure within the coop and run at all times. Leave them this way for 3 to 4 weeks. Everybody sees, nobody touches. After 3 or 4 weeks you can mix them all together. Usually the jostling is a bit less with this method. Of course always intervene if it turns bloody.

Put out more food and watering stations. The older flock or larger birds can guard these areas and starve them out. It can take several months for a new flock to become integrated into an older flock.

Good luck and let your other questions rip!!
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Thank you, Two Crows!

For the two flocks we are planning to integrate, we had them in adjoining runs for weeks, then started letting them all free range together, and it has gotten more and more comfortable over time. The one who still gets the most harassment is the Polish hen, and that from the two Wyandotte's, whom I have alternatively nicknamed "The Enforcers" and "The Storm Troopers." I really like your idea of having more than one feed/watering station. Thanks again!
 
Polish are always picked on. LOL Poor birds. I think it is that Top Hat they wear and look a bit different. You can always keep the Silkies and the Polish together if need be.

Yes, I keep several areas for those shier birds, lowest in the order or birds that need a bit of peace and quiet. Just keeping one area for food and water and there will be those that go hungry or dehydrate, either being chased away or too afraid to eat or drink.

Good luck! :-)
 

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