Hen pecked new rooster!!

[audy5000g]

I'm not sure what to do. We have 4 New Were Ln. ISA Browns. We added a young rooster and three young Hens at night yesterday. We had to end up removing them all this morning because they were pecking the rooster to death and the three hens were in the corner shivering.

I don't really have room to put them anywhere else. Any ideas? Right now they're in a small cage.

 

[BirdieBirdie]

Audy5000g,

It takes time to integrate new members into the flock. Move the newbies into its own area where the 2 flocks can see each other but can't access them to pester or peck. If you don't have a separate cage, create a partition so there is physical separation and a place for the newbies to take shelter if needed. Give them a week to "eye" each other and then try to mix them. It should help reduce the friction. I've integrated several batches and it takes a while for the newbies to fully integrate.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately you can't just add new members, they will be seen as intruders to be killed or driven out. It's best to pen the groups next to each other or make a pen within the coop for the new ones for a few weeks so the existing birds get used to seeing them before trying to let the mingle. If you don't have the room than your set up isn't big enough to add more to it and it won't work out in the long run.

 

[audy5000g]

Audy5000g,

It takes time to integrate new members into the flock. Move the newbies into its own area where the 2 flocks can see each other but can't access them to pester or peck. If you don't have a separate cage, create a partition so there is physical separation and a place for the newbies to take shelter if needed. Give them a week to "eye" each other and then try to mix them. It should help reduce the friction. I've integrated several batches and it takes a while for the newbies to fully integrate.

Ok great. I can do that.

 

[BirdieBirdie]

Checking in. Any better?

 

[audy5000g]

We still have them separated