Integrating Flocks- So stressful!

[Ohaus82]

Mostly fishing for reassurance here, sorry, cant help myself!

I have a flock of 5 6 week old Americaunas. Two got chomped by a hawk about 2 weeks ago, but survived the attack. I have been nursing them separately in a brooder until last night. They were getting way too rowdy for the brooder and they were looking healthy, so I snuck them in the coop last night. Everyone went to sleep and all was well. Well, today there has been lots of ruckus in there. No blood, but one of the injured ones has been really asserting her authority. She is biting, flying at the other girls and vehemently protecting her other injured sister. I know Im not supposed to intervene unless there is blood, but all I want to do is sit down there and supervise them all day long!! Im so worried someone will get hurt!

The girls were attacked by the hawk in their run, so I am not letting them out of the coop until the run is reinforced (hopefully this week).

Not much else I can do, right?

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Please keep an eye on them. Once there's blood, things can become ugly after that. If there's bloodshed, remove the agressor for some serious timeout.

Yes it's stressful on both you and the chickens, but the order has to be established somehow. Best wishes for a happy flock for you.

 

[Ohaus82]

Thanks, Ive been down there about every 20 minutes all day, and I plan to continue that until they go to bed tonight. Im home tomorrow too, so if it continues, I will keep checking on them.

 

[chicmom]

Introductions are always touchy. And it probably doesn't help that they're locked in the coop right now, with nothing to do but look at eachother.....Perhaps you can put the agressive in a cage inside the coop for a couple of days.....then she can get used to seeing everyone else without attacking.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Get some treats out there --- scatter some lettuce or apples - oatmeal - something to get their minds off of each other. I found that helped last time I had to integrate a couple back into my flock.

 

[Ohaus82]

Thanks! I will give these things a try. I put some chunks of sod in there to give them something to peck at. They havent been too excited by the treats Ive tried, but the apples and oatmeal would be new, I will give that a try too.
Im hoping to get them in their run for a little bit this afternoon, just to give them a little fun time, even if I have to watch over every second.