Hi all. I've tried EVERYTHING and I'm hoping to get some feedback or suggestions here. I have spent almost 5 weeks trying to establish them together and nothing works. Original flock is 2 years old. The new chicks were purchased March 26, 2020.
I have never had issues introducing new chicks to a flock. Well, this round has been exhausting and incredibly stressful. Here is what I have done:
1) put new chicks in run/coop alongside the established flock for three weeks.
2) placed new chicks into coop with older flock overnight
3) have had to separate my coop/run for new flock and old flock for two weeks now
4) separated the chick being picked on from all of them
5) separated the bossy hen from all of them
6) given new gals a place to hide, etc
7) introduced new toys, treats and all sorts of items to distract
Nothing is working. The bossy hen has absolutely tortured 1 of the new chicks and now down-right frightened the other 3 chicks. The smaller new chick has had her head nearly pecked off, her eye damaged (which I have since fixed) and a wing injured. I'm up at 5 am to remove them from coop and separate them...I'm running two different feeders, two different waters, and hand placing them in the coop at night now.
Do I:
1) get rid of the boss hen
2) get rid of the chick who is picked on
3) get rid of the original flock
4) get rid of the new chicks as a group?
5) and just letting them hash it out is not an option as I have a daughter who is really emotionally invested right now.
Thank you!!!
I have never had issues introducing new chicks to a flock. Well, this round has been exhausting and incredibly stressful. Here is what I have done:
1) put new chicks in run/coop alongside the established flock for three weeks.
2) placed new chicks into coop with older flock overnight
3) have had to separate my coop/run for new flock and old flock for two weeks now
4) separated the chick being picked on from all of them
5) separated the bossy hen from all of them
6) given new gals a place to hide, etc
7) introduced new toys, treats and all sorts of items to distract
Nothing is working. The bossy hen has absolutely tortured 1 of the new chicks and now down-right frightened the other 3 chicks. The smaller new chick has had her head nearly pecked off, her eye damaged (which I have since fixed) and a wing injured. I'm up at 5 am to remove them from coop and separate them...I'm running two different feeders, two different waters, and hand placing them in the coop at night now.
Do I:
1) get rid of the boss hen
2) get rid of the chick who is picked on
3) get rid of the original flock
4) get rid of the new chicks as a group?
5) and just letting them hash it out is not an option as I have a daughter who is really emotionally invested right now.
Thank you!!!