I’m Cora and new to Hen keeping

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Coralbirdie

In the Brooder
Dec 5, 2022
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Hi I’m Cora.
I am new to Hen keeping. We have 5 hens 2 since May and just added 3 2 weeks ago.
The pecking order is interesting but with the new addition...the drama of feather plucking and harsh pecking and fights Wow!, I finally just removed the bully new hen. Will it continue or go back to the original pecking order?
The 2 reds are my older ones
The 3 sex links are new. They are also not laying eggs only the oldest one is laying. The two young s-links were molting when got them but one has laid 2x but nothing since The larger bully s-link was not molting and has not laid yet?! But have pulled her out due to her bullying and making the others very nervous.
Any suggestions are helpful Thank you in advance
 

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Hello Cora, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

How long did you do the "look don't touch" portion of the integration? It should be done for a minimum of 7 days. Longer is better.

You need to have a LOT of space and a lot of things in that space to perch on, hide behind and scratch through. Multiple feed and water stations help greatly.

It takes months for full integration. As long as no blood is being drawn and there is enough food and water for all, let them work it out. The pecking order is a dynamic structure, not a list. It ebbs and flows. The old rankings are gone. A new one is being worked out. And it can change for any number of reasons.

The eggs are slowing down/stopping because of the molt and the stress of being moved in with a couple of strangers. You won't see significant production until the days start to lengthen in spring.
 
Coralbirdie said:
Hi I’m Cora.
I am new to Hen keeping. We have 5 hens 2 since May and just added 3 2 weeks ago.
The pecking order is interesting but with the new addition...the drama of feather plucking and harsh pecking and fights Wow!, I finally just removed the bully new hen. Will it continue or go back to the original pecking order?
The 2 reds are my older ones
The 3 sex links are new. They are also not laying eggs only the oldest one is laying. The two young s-links were molting when got them but one has laid 2x but nothing since The larger bully s-link was not molting and has not laid yet?! But have pulled her out due to her bullying and making the others very nervous.
Any suggestions are helpful Thank you in advance
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!!
 
Establishing and re-establishing the pecking order is ongoing and often difficult for both hens and hen-keepers. I agree with @DobieLover that as long as there's no blood being spilled, the best approach is to simply let them work it out.

For the first year of my Welsummer's life, she had no feathers left on her butt, due to bullying by her coop mates. all of whom were purchased together as chicks. Suddenly, everyone backed off, and Lottie spent the remainder of her life fully feathered.

Last year, all my hens -- old and young -- laid well into winter. This year, one girl is producing an egg every third or fourth day, but Eleanor's the only one laying at all. They always wind down production for me in the winter.

Three of the girls are just coming off late molts, and I'd rather the girls produce feathers for themselves than eggs for me anyway.

Welcome to BYC and best wishes for you and your flock!
 

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