PhenixJiRa
Songster
Hi again!
Curious on the success rate of others with a similar situation. I apologize for the wordiness.
I have 4 hens (2 yrs old) and have been integrating 5 pullets for a a little over 3 weeks (started at 14 weeks old). I kept them separated during the day in a side-by-side pen and let them out in the yard together. For about a week now, they have been mingling with some difficulty but mostly okay.
One hen in particular (Phoenix) is having a difficult time and it's getting worse (she is very aggressive to the pullets). Sunday I put her in the extra coop in the late afternoon for roughly 24 hours (over night).
When I let her out yesterday afternoon she ran frantically to her hen-friends who were in the yard. About ten minutes later she ran to the run where the pullets were doing their thing. When I let her in to see what would happen, she immediately went after them. I then let them all out in the yard and things were okay because there was a lot of space. That night, they all slept in the same coop as per usual (but I must help manage it).
Every morning during the integration, I usually let the hens into the yard while the pullets do their thing in the run. Then, a short while later, I put the hens back in and let things happen. Usually the pullets end up on perches trying to get away from the hens but it's mainly Phoenix that they fear.
This morning everyone was preening and Phoenix looked up at the pullets, jumped on a perch to another perch and started going after them. She's gone from chasing them on the ground to hunting them down on perches.
It seems worse in person than here in writing but I'm worried I'll end up with wigged out chickens that could lead to other issues.
Sooooo... I'm trying to find out what the success rate is of a hen who is at the BOTTOM of the current pecking order accepting new additions to the flock that she seemingly perceives as a threat to her position.
I'm not even sure if separating her will make a difference since she's already at the bottom and the new ladies are not showing signs of establishing their own pecking order yet... hence they are frightened all the time. It could be another 3 weeks before the pullets start fighting back. And the way she's acting, she might only react positively to chickens above her.
Perhaps she needs to be part of a smaller flock (2-4) like she has been? I can't keep her in her own coop alone forever (she doesn't like it). She lays a large egg 5-6 times a week so I hate to lose her but I also don't want the whole flock suffering due to her issues either.
Curious on the success rate of others with a similar situation. I apologize for the wordiness.
I have 4 hens (2 yrs old) and have been integrating 5 pullets for a a little over 3 weeks (started at 14 weeks old). I kept them separated during the day in a side-by-side pen and let them out in the yard together. For about a week now, they have been mingling with some difficulty but mostly okay.
One hen in particular (Phoenix) is having a difficult time and it's getting worse (she is very aggressive to the pullets). Sunday I put her in the extra coop in the late afternoon for roughly 24 hours (over night).
When I let her out yesterday afternoon she ran frantically to her hen-friends who were in the yard. About ten minutes later she ran to the run where the pullets were doing their thing. When I let her in to see what would happen, she immediately went after them. I then let them all out in the yard and things were okay because there was a lot of space. That night, they all slept in the same coop as per usual (but I must help manage it).
Every morning during the integration, I usually let the hens into the yard while the pullets do their thing in the run. Then, a short while later, I put the hens back in and let things happen. Usually the pullets end up on perches trying to get away from the hens but it's mainly Phoenix that they fear.
This morning everyone was preening and Phoenix looked up at the pullets, jumped on a perch to another perch and started going after them. She's gone from chasing them on the ground to hunting them down on perches.
It seems worse in person than here in writing but I'm worried I'll end up with wigged out chickens that could lead to other issues.
Sooooo... I'm trying to find out what the success rate is of a hen who is at the BOTTOM of the current pecking order accepting new additions to the flock that she seemingly perceives as a threat to her position.
I'm not even sure if separating her will make a difference since she's already at the bottom and the new ladies are not showing signs of establishing their own pecking order yet... hence they are frightened all the time. It could be another 3 weeks before the pullets start fighting back. And the way she's acting, she might only react positively to chickens above her.
Perhaps she needs to be part of a smaller flock (2-4) like she has been? I can't keep her in her own coop alone forever (she doesn't like it). She lays a large egg 5-6 times a week so I hate to lose her but I also don't want the whole flock suffering due to her issues either.