So i have 6 hens that are about 1 1/2 yrs old in a coop with a fenced off outdoor area (neighbors have dogs that run free .) Two days ago i added 2 hens and 1 rooster that are 4 1/2 months old to the flock. So the adult hens immediately attacked and pecked at the young ones. At the second day the adults have left the young ones alone a little more, but the young ones just sit in the corner of the outside run all day long. they will not go into the coop during the day and also at night they sleep outside. when i come home fromw ork i have had to get the adult chickens inside and shut the door and refill the outside water and food. and the young chickens eat n drink like they havent ate or drank anything all day. so, im basically trying to get some tipson what to do and how to make sure the young ones are eating drinking during the day while im at work and any other tips to help this process of them getting along. (sorry if my message is hard to understand, I am obviously not very good at typing )
You need to separate the young ones from the older flock of hens. Put them in a crate or fence off an area where they can see each other but not get to one another. Then after a few days put them in the coop at night when the others are sleeping and that should help.
When I ad pullets into the hen pen I make sure I am around to repremand the hens that attack them! Believe it or not I chase the hen that attacks them and each time that hen gets near one of the pullets I make a shoooosh noise and walk towards the hen pointing my finger at it and eventually the hens stop picking on the babies! I know it sounds nutty, but it works for me and my hens. I guess it would be like a mother hen protecting her babies and the hens get the message And I agree with paddock36, I always keep the younger chickens in a pen next to the older chickens so they can see each other for several months, plus putting the pullets on the roost at night with the hens after dark helps all the birds bond. Good Luck!
