Huge issues with latest addition to existing flock

[jenlt]

Hi there -

Just a little background on what's going on. Been keeping chickens for nearly 14 years. I am on my 4th addition. I still have one chicken from the initial flock, nearly 14 years old & still going pretty strong for an old girl. She was head hen until about 3 years ago, but respected enough that none of them have really attacked her since her rank has changed. I also have an 8 year old from the 2nd addition & 2 - 4 year olds from the 3rd addition.

Recent changes before the latest addition. Head hen & one other, both 8 years old died within a few weeks of each other, about a month before I even brought new chicks home. New head hen is one of the 4 year olds. The other 4 year old is lowest & has been lowest ranking from the beginning & she is quite a jealous girl. Doesn't like even the cats getting my attention.

I have done what I always have done, same number of new to old ratio. At a month old, as long as it was warm outside, would take the babies out in a corral where the older ones could see & get used to them, then at 6 weeks, they would spend most of the day outside, either in a corralled area in the coop or later in the day, I would corral them outside. Toward the end of their 7th week, kept the older ones locked in the coop with the babies (still corralled), for 3 days. At 8 weeks, started letting them free range when with the older ones when I was at home. There were a few tiffs, but they pretty much stayed separated. At 9 weeks, it was time to bed down with the older girls.

Not only are the babies completely terrified, mostly of the (2) 4 year olds, started with the jealous one, but trying to get them in the house at night has become a problem. They are being attacked. These attacks are like nothing I have ever witnessed. Yes, I do know that the pecking order is changing, yet again & may be added stress since the upheaval prior to the babies. I have had to remove both of the 4 year olds on several occasions because the attacks are vicious & yes, there has been blood drawn.

The head hen is now squawking for HOURS at a time. It's driving me crazy, so I can only imagine how the neighbors feel.

Again, I have done EVERYTHING as I always have & now, I'm really worried. The babies are now almost 12 weeks old, so they've been out there for a while now.

Anyone ever experience any acclimation issues like this and/or does anyone have any advice?

I have no idea at this point, what to do.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you're only having a problem in the coop, then the issue is likely coop related. Where are the roosts in relation to the door? Do the youngsters have to pass by nest boxes with moody hens? Do they have their own spot to roost at night away from the big girls?

Some pictures might help others give suggestions.

 

[jenlt]

If you're only having a problem in the coop, then the issue is likely coop related. Where are the roosts in relation to the door? Do the youngsters have to pass by nest boxes with moody hens? Do they have their own spot to roost at night away from the big girls?

Some pictures might help others give suggestions.

Hi there -

The issues are outside the coop as well, there is no integration happening. The babies are terrified, blood was drawn during the day.

The coop is 16 x 5. The house is inside the coop, raised off the ground & is 3 x 5 - door is offset from middle on the 5' side.

The nesting box is at the opposite end of coop from the house.

The coop is pretty much open, of course there is a roof & door, but other than that, it's wire. The access to the house is from inside the coop for the chicks with a secondary door for maintenance on the outside.

Initially, I put in the "baby" roost that is a stand alone 6" off the floor, none of them wanted to roost on it. There is a lower roost inside the door & 2 higher roosts on either side, where the older chicks roost. When the babies roost on the lower, the 2 - 4 year olds will jump down & attack. Not sure where else I could have the babies roost at night.

 

[thecatumbrella]

A 3x5 sleeping area is considered tight for 8 birds. Rule of thumb is 4 sqft per bird in the sleeping area (or coop). At one point, I felt like this was overkill, but now that I've experience coop bullying firsthand, I'm in agreement. They need space to maneuver during their bedtime routine. Someone is inevitably getting whacked or pecked in the head while they jostle for position.

With the new birds being almost 12 weeks old, that puts you in a tough position. You could rehome the two 4 year-olds, but that will throw off the pecking order, and another bird could take up the mantle of bullying the newcomers. You could make the coop larger, or add a second coop for the younger birds (This is what I'll likely be doing if we ever add more birds; my coop is also small).

Since the attacks have drawn blood, it looks like you'll have to take a step back on integration and keep the two groups separated within sight of each other, then try again once things cool down in another week or two.

Some birds just don't seem to take well to newcomers. Sorry you've been having such trouble.

 

[jenlt]

A 3x5 sleeping area is considered tight for 8 birds. Rule of thumb is 4 sqft per bird in the sleeping area (or coop). At one point, I felt like this was overkill, but now that I've experience coop bullying firsthand, I'm in agreement. They need space to maneuver during their bedtime routine. Someone is inevitably getting whacked or pecked in the head while they jostle for position.

With the new birds being almost 12 weeks old, that puts you in a tough position. You could rehome the two 4 year-olds, but that will throw off the pecking order, and another bird could take up the mantle of bullying the newcomers. You could make the coop larger, or add a second coop for the younger birds (This is what I'll likely be doing if we ever add more birds; my coop is also small).

Since the attacks have drawn blood, it looks like you'll have to take a step back on integration and keep the two groups separated within sight of each other, then try again once things cool down in another week or two.

Some birds just don't seem to take well to newcomers. Sorry you've been having such trouble.

Thanks, but I believe what you are talking about is coop area, which maybe you call a run. I have a coop & house, the house is where they sleep, the coop is where the nesting boxes are, food & water, shelter in inclement weather. They have 80 sqft there, so 10 sqft per bird.

They free range all day on a 1/4 acre unless they are eating or laying an egg, so they aren't locked up in close quarters.

This same sleeping area has been used for nearly 14 years, this is the 4th addition to the flock & have had as many as 10 birds sleeping in the house with no issues.

Chickens do not require 4 square feet of space each to sleep. I have never heard that before. I research everything to the umpteeth degree before embarking on something new & I built my own coop because of the small things available at the feed store, everything said 10 to 12 inches per bird for roosting space, which they clearly have. There is a total of 9 feet of roosting bar available in the house. When the baby roosting bar was in there, there was 12 feet.

Appreciate the feedback!



They are rarely closed up in the coop together.

 

[thecatumbrella]

This same sleeping area has been used for nearly 14 years, this is the 4th addition to the flock & have had as many as 10 birds sleeping in the house with no issues.

I hear you. With chickens, it feels like things are never a problem until they are.

Chickens do not require 4 square feet of space each to sleep. I have never heard that before. I research everything to the umpteeth degree before embarking on something new & I built my own coop because of the small things available at the feed store, everything said 10 to 12 inches per bird for roosting space, which they clearly have. There is a total of 9 feet of roosting bar available in the house. When the baby roosting bar was in there, there was 12 feet.

The problem isn't the roost space (and you're correct in that each bird needs at least 12 inches). It's being enclosed in a smaller area, especially with chickens that do not like each other. I'd say you've been fortunate on integration with the older birds. My experience has been more like what you're going through right now.

Keep us updated on what you decide to do and how it works out!