I’ve integrated my flock, What am I doing wrong?

[Jnet]

I have 4) 32 week hens and I have integrated 3) 22 week old pullets into the flock.
I read all the threads here on BYC and initially put the pullets in a cage next to the hen’s coop/run for 3 weeks. Then I put the pullets inside a cage inside the run for another 2 weeks. Then I put the pullets in the main run/coop with the hens. Only 1 RIR hen attacks the pullets whether in the run or free ranging. She did that for a week without letting up. SO THEN, I separated Ruby, the attack hen and put her in a cage INSIDE the run hoping to knock her down the pecking order a little. All is peaceful. After 5 days of this separation, the first time I let her free range with the entire flock she attacked EVERYBODY!

Can anyone offer any other suggestions? I am at a loss. Would completely taking her away from the run/coop help at all? And for how long is appropriate? Knowing that I have 4 more 13 week old pullets that I need to think about integrating in the next month or so makes me feel defeated.

Please help! My kids would be sad, but my only other thought is to get rid of her, but how do I get rid of 1 bossy chicken?

 

[Judy]

You're not doing anything wrong at all. Stuff happens. I figure you have to let it be what it is, unless you see blood.

You could try removing Ruby entirely for a full week. Keep her out of sight and hearing of the flock. Then when she is returned, she will presumably be a stranger to them, so she has to return at the bottom of the pecking order. I'm afraid that here, she would become chicken and dumplings for someone if that didn't work.

 

[teach1rusl]

Ideally, a bully would be kept away from the others (out of site out of mind) so that it's like she's a new bird when she's reintroduced. Do you have a place the crate could be kept for several days not in site of the coop????
Is she pulling feathers out or drawing blood from the others? Or is she just chasing, pecking, and then walking away to bully someone else??? If you don't think she'd do any serious damage, you could just let it go and she will eventually slack off a bit, although that may be months away. My GLW has always been a bully (we have several evil names for her...lol), but she's much less of one once she gets used to newbies.
If she's truly going after blood, then you may end up having no choice but to rehome her (assuming inviting her to dinner is not an option). Sometimes removing one bad element gives a whole new atmosphere to the flock...

Until you work things out, do make sure that there are more than one feeder and waterer available, set well apart from one another (preferably not in sight of one another)...so that other birds have places to eat/drink in peace...

 

[Natmaster]

I had the same problem. I have one bully chicken( pam) she attacked all five of my newly integrated chicks. Its perfectly normal. Even though it seems mean, the first month or so is very important in creating a Pecking order. Your chicken wants to show the chicks who is boss. Knocking your hen down in the pecking order wont work, this will just make her have more motivation to need to be at the top again. This creates a problem.
Until this pecking order is established and the chicks learn thier place the hen will feel like her dominance is at stake. Your chicksnwill soon learn to stay out of your hens way and to respect her. If you do see blood then you need to interfere. Put the chicks in a cage or confine them within the coop. Slowly reintegrate the chickens slowly so to not threaten the other chickens.
I hope this helped,good luck!

 

[Jnet]

thank you for all your help! I ended up putting the 'Bully’ in my husky’s dog crate for about 1 1/2 weeks. She made so much noise it was funny! I integrated her back in 2 days ago and she was just fine. I understand that she may continue to pick a little but it is so much better than before. The other pullets get out of her way when they see her, which is perfectly fine with us.