Help!

[Jens Chickens]

I have six pullets around 11/12 weeks old. They have been doing wonderful. Three days ago I added three year old hens to my flock! Things were going as expected! A little pecking! At night the hens roosted on one side of the coop. The pullets on the other. Tonight the hens full out we're attacking the pullets. No matter if they were in the floor or the roost bar. Nothing made the hens happy. We ended up putting the hens in the run for a bit tonight and letting the pullets stay in the house. I don't have a way to separate them other then that! What can I do? The hens have been pecking at the pullets when they try to eat as well. But tonight in the coop it was crazy. The hens were picking on all the pullets. Any help out there? Thanks!!!

 

[Jens Chickens]

Sorry it should read I added three hens that are a year old.

 

[azygous]

Sometimes you have personality conflicts. I expect things will settle down eventually. But meanwhile, you might need to referee.

Out in the pen, make sure you have plenty of space so the pullets can outrun the hens. Make sure there aren't places where they can get cornered, as that's when injuries happen.

In the coop, I've found it helpful to rig partitions on the roosting perch so older hens can't harass younger ones. You can hang flaps from the ceiling if the perch is up high. Or slip plastic storage bin lids over the perch at intervals to create dividers. Depending on how your perch is built, you can come up with some way to divide the perch so the pullets have their own section.

Don't worry too much. I think the pecking order will soon sort itself out.

 

[Jens Chickens]

Thanks! We ended up leaving the hens in the dark for about 20 minutes so everyone calmed down. We turned off the light in the coop (its on a timer) and let the hens back in. That seemed to help a TON. The hens were on the roosting bars next to the pullets and did not care. Perhaps we will not use the light for a bit (soon we wont need it at all but it is dark here about 8 pm). I do like the idea of adding a divider though! Thanks! Hopefully tomorrow night will be better!