Integrate 2 new better than one lone one?

[traco]

I had posted over in Chicken Behaviour and Egglaying about my new little Cochin (don't know how to add that conversation to here for info?).

Quick history .. Three 5 month old pullets (light brahma, buff Orpington, speckled Sussex). Also two speckled Sussex 11 weeks old added 2 weeks ago. All have come from the same place. I went back to get the blue Cochin Monday. Put in roost that night after dark, woke next day to her being beat up by everyone and just huddling not even running away. Separated her since. Today put her out while everyone was free ranging. Big hens pecked at her which is fine. They went off to forage. She went to the two pullets same size/age and one of them really started beating her up, jumped on top of her and grabbing her neck. She did nothing, didn't run away, just sat there taking it. I separated her and watched. She wants to be with the others and went over to the two her size again. Again was getting the crap kicked out of her. I separated again and have put her back in her pen, poor little thing.

People had said in the other post integrating one into a flock is hard. I see that firsthand now.

I probably should have gotten two at the time but is 7 hens in a 3 x 6 coop and a 12 x 6 covered run too cramped?

I also have a extra bit of run fenced in but not covered and also occasionally I let them out to free range when I'm around for an hour or so just before bed.

I couldn't believe that the ones her same age and from the same big pen area from the buyer were the ones who lit into her so hard. That 2 weeks time frame apart sure made a difference, I thought the three of them would bond. I guess even a few days apart makes a difference.

Edit*
I can keep persevering with her and try and integrate in a couple of weeks? Will that work hopefully? She paces when the others are out foraging around though and that's why I was asking about getting another for company.

 

[BYCforlife]

I had posted over in Chicken Behaviour and Egglaying about my new little Cochin (don't know how to add that conversation to here for info?).

Quick history .. Three 5 month old pullets (light brahma, buff Orpington, speckled Sussex). Also two speckled Sussex 11 weeks old added 2 weeks ago. All have come from the same place. I went back to get the blue Cochin Monday. Put in roost that night after dark, woke next day to her being beat up by everyone and just huddling not even running away. Separated her since. Today put her out while everyone was free ranging. Big hens pecked at her which is fine. They went off to forage. She went to the two pullets same size/age and one of them really started beating her up, jumped on top of her and grabbing her neck. She did nothing, didn't run away, just sat there taking it. I separated her and watched. She wants to be with the others and went over to the two her size again. Again was getting the crap kicked out of her. I separated again and have put her back in her pen, poor little thing.

People had said in the other post integrating one into a flock is hard. I see that firsthand now.

I probably should have gotten two at the time but is 7 hens in a 3 x 6 coop and a 12 x 6 covered run too cramped?

I also have a extra bit of run fenced in but not covered and also occasionally I let them out to free range when I'm around for an hour or so just before bed.

I couldn't believe that the ones her same age and from the same big pen area from the buyer were the ones who lit into her so hard. That 2 weeks time frame apart sure made a difference, I thought the three of them would bond. I guess even a few days apart makes a difference.

Edit*
I can keep persevering with her and try and integrate in a couple of weeks? Will that work hopefully? She paces when the others are out foraging around though and that's why I was asking about getting another for company.

Chickens don't really like new friends.
They normally do better if you take them all out of the coop, put the poor attacked one in, and then add in the chickens, nice ones first, until they are all back in. Wait a few hours in between putting chickens in so the ones in the coop can get used to each other.
You sort of need to disrupt the pecking order, so the attacked chick can have a chance.

 

[traco]

I had let the older ones out to graze and just had her and the other two same size/age in the run. The more outgoing one was the one who attacked her. Her buddy is shyer. So I should try the shyer one and her and see how that goes? I'm thinking the bonded pair will be trying to get back together through the fence. Which leaves her still standing by herself. I could be wrong though.

I just want to do what is best for her. If staying alone while doing the separation from the others will work down the road, great. But I can see she is lonely and pacing when the others get to go outside for free foraging.

 

[chickens really]

I introduce all mine during free range time...The integration goes a lot smoother on neutral ground than in the Coop and run....Sure they may chase her but that way she has places to run...Do it when you have a few hours to let them mingle and supervise ....

 

[traco]

The thing is ... she doesn't run away. Just squats and takes the beating.

 

[chickens really]

Then she is submitting and if you put human emotions on them integration will not take place...Chickens know what they are doing....

 

[Kate E]

I bought 5 new chickens from a free range farm a week ago and I am experiencing a similar problem. 4 of the hens are 1-1.5 years old but one is just 4 months old- she is an Easter Egger. The EE is so terrified of one of the older hens, a Rhode Island Red, that she won't come out of the coop. I've been in contact with the woman who sold me the flock and I plan on purchasing another 4 month EE from her today so the one I currently has has a companion. I am worried though about how to reintroduce the two 4 month olds now that they've been separated for the last week. I hope it goes well but your story above is exactly what I'm worried about. If you find a solution that works I'd love to hear about it!

 

[traco]

Then she is submitting and if you put human emotions on them integration will not take place...Chickens know what they are doing....

I realize that. But when she is not moving at all, I broke them up before blood was drawn. I will continue and see how things progress. That's why I was asking about getting another for company and to hopefully spread the aggression so it's not just her?

 

[Mrs. K]

The original poster is very cramped on space, and chickens need a lot of space. Many people think that if they free range, one can cheat on space. But you really can't.

You can look at your space and use more of the vertical space. If you think of a 4 x 4 pallet. raised up on cement blocks, you have added 4x4 feet of usable space to the set up. Birds can get under and on top of the pallet.

Chickens can show aggression, and a submissive bird moves away out of sight, signaling that she agrees, you can stop pecking now. The problem is in may set ups, there is no place to get out of sight. So the aggressive chicken thinks that the submissive chicken is challenging her, and the fighting goes on.

Some partial walls, such as 3x2 foot piece of plywood, can be stood up in the middle or in front of a corner, so that a bird can stand behind it, out of sight. A feed station placed there is a good idea too. A place where a bird can eat, without being seen by the others.

A single bird introduction can be very hard. A trick can be to separate one bird from the current flock, and put her and the new bird together. There will still be a ruckus, but it will be one on one. Let them work it out, wait and then introduce the pair to the flock. It spreads the pecking. While you are doing this, if you have these birds where the others can see them it will help.

Mrs K

 

[traco]

The original poster is very cramped on space, and chickens need a lot of space. Many people think that if they free range, one can cheat on space. But you really can't.

You can look at your space and use more of the vertical space. If you think of a 4 x 4 pallet. raised up on cement blocks, you have added 4x4 feet of usable space to the set up. Birds can get under and on top of the pallet.

Chickens can show aggression, and a submissive bird moves away out of sight, signaling that she agrees, you can stop pecking now. The problem is in may set ups, there is no place to get out of sight. So the aggressive chicken thinks that the submissive chicken is challenging her, and the fighting goes on.

Some partial walls, such as 3x2 foot piece of plywood, can be stood up in the middle or in front of a corner, so that a bird can stand behind it, out of sight. A feed station placed there is a good idea too. A place where a bird can eat, without being seen by the others.

A single bird introduction can be very hard. A trick can be to separate one bird from the current flock, and put her and the new bird together. There will still be a ruckus, but it will be one on one. Let them work it out, wait and then introduce the pair to the flock. It spreads the pecking. While you are doing this, if you have these birds where the others can see them it will help.

Mrs K

I have 6 right now. Was asking if 7 would be too many and you thought it was. There is plenty of roosting space and the nest boxes are mounted on the outside so doesn't go into living space inside the coop. I've got a couple of stumps and the feeder for sight breakers in the run. That's why I wasn't sure if 7 would be stretching it. I will stick with only 6 and continue to integrate the new one slowly.