Henhouse brawl

[barefootfarmer]

I have never had standard sized chickens until yesterday. I have always loved my bantams, but decided I would give standards a try. I brought home 5 BO hens yesterday who are 22 weeks old. None had laid for their previous owner, but I got an egg this morning from one. I am keeping them in an 8x12 run with elevated nesting boxes. They share this with a pair of Peking ducks at night. Once they know where home is they will be free ranging during the day.

The woman I bought them from sold them because they were beating up on the younger hens they added to the flock. I figured this was because she had 10 standard chickens in a roughly 6x3 run with two tiny coops on either end.

Today I brought home two year old Ameraucana hens (which DH has dubbed the last chickens I will be bringing home our new chicks start laying.) I put them in the run with the BOs and there was a practical knock down drag out fight. The BOs ganged up on the Ameraucanas and feathers went to flying.

Needless to say, I removed the Ameraucanas and put them with the bantams. The bantams chase the Ameraucanas but they don't try to kill them. The Ameraucanas don't put up a fight they just run away.

My only concern is that the Ameraucanas will get tired of being chased and fight back. They are larger than the bantams and I don't want any of my babies hurt.

I need suggestions. Should I put them back with the BOs and let them fight it out under my watchful eye, or leave them with the chasing bantams? Neither option seems ideal, but I have to figure something out.

 

[barefootfarmer]

I know this is a long post...but I wanted to make sure I filled in the background info...sorry for the longwindedness. I am an English teacher.

 

[Den in Penn]

I class that first placement with the BOs, as all hands on deck to repel the invaders fight. A cold introduction can produce such fights. Try putting them in a pen in the BO's area for a week or so. That will allow them to get to know each other before they can interact without a physical barrier between them. When you do let them together more space, especially at first is better.

 

[nan4848]

I agree with Den in Penn. If you can keep them in the same area as the BO's, but a barrier between for a couple weeks until they get to know each other is the best move.

And actually the safest bet is to quarantine all the new birds from your existing flock for at least a couple weeks to make sure the new ones aren't introducing a disease.