HELP! Been integrating for 4 weeks and no progress in older hen behavior

[Altairsky]

Do your chickens free range? 4 weeks is very little time, for a very little space. It took my hens almost 3 months to tolerate the young pullets, and they didn't accept them as flock members until the pullets started laying and one of the cockerels took control over the elderly hens. And my chickens free range!

 

[stephmelsh]

I would not even consider having them coop together without relative harmony in the run first. Also the coops shown are way too small to expect 4 chicks to safely sleep with multiple adults.

Couple of questions. In the first photo, is the area between the 2 coops the run? How big is the run? Any other photos of it so we can get a better idea of what's in there? Do they get to come out to the area in front or are they strictly in the run?

Also from your description I wonder if you've intervened too much. When you saw the feather pulling and chasing, what did you do? Did you leave them together or did you immediately separate them?

I’ve been reading through this, as I’m going through something similar. I have one hen - the lowest on the pecking order and every time I let the chicks out of their “safe space” she attacks and tries to pin it to the ground. I immediately separate. Reading the above - intervening too much, is this a thing? I do have a different set up than @Ben_ep1.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’ve been reading through this, as I’m going through something similar. I have one hen - the lowest on the pecking order and every time I let the chicks out of their “safe space” she attacks and tries to pin it to the ground. I immediately separate. Reading the above - intervening too much, is this a thing? I do have a different set up than @Ben_ep1.

That's fairly normal - the lowest ranked bird is often the worst bully.

Yes intervening too much can be a problem, because sooner or later the chicks need to join the flock (unless you opt to house them as a completely separate flock), and repeatedly separating them just sets back the progress you make. Yes it's hard to watch hens chasing or attacking chicks but the chicks also need to learn how to deal with the bullying. A few ripped out feathers, or scared squawks, or being chased away from food for a short period of time... I consider all those acceptable. Actual injury or endless harassment (where the chick appropriately runs away or takes cover and the hen continues chasing, or guards the food to the point that the chicks can't eat) is not.

 

[stephmelsh]

That's fairly normal - the lowest ranked bird is often the worst bully.

Yes intervening too much can be a problem, because sooner or later the chicks need to join the flock (unless you opt to house them as a completely separate flock), and repeatedly separating them just sets back the progress you make. Yes it's hard to watch hens chasing or attacking chicks but the chicks also need to learn how to deal with the bullying. A few ripped out feathers, or scared squawks, or being chased away from food for a short period of time... I consider all those acceptable. Actual injury or endless harassment (where the chick appropriately runs away or takes cover and the hen continues chasing, or guards the food to the point that the chicks can't eat) is not.

Thank you for the advice!! This is my first time integrating, so it’s been a learning curve. I will definitely try to not intervene as much. My OG flock are just sweethearts to me, so it’s hard to see them be mean, but know it’s animal instinct.

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you for the advice!! This is my first time integrating, so it’s been a learning curve. I will definitely try to not intervene as much. My OG flock are just sweethearts to me, so it’s hard to see them be mean, but know it’s animal instinct.

You can use peepers on the mean hens which will make the integration less stressful.