Integrating hens and chicks- 1 hen not playing nice, what to do?

[sheeshshe]

I have 9 chicks and 1 grown silkie that I am trying to integrate with 5 hens. 4 of the hens are doing great! 1 however (the bottom of the pecking order) is not being nice at all. She is being very aggressive. Would it be wise to put the chicks in with the 4 hens at night and take the other hen and put her in the chicks sleeping space for solitary confinement for a few days? and then add her back in with the hens and chicks? or is there something different I should do?

Also, if I fully incorporate the hens and chicks, what do I do about the food situation? do I take the hens off of the layer pellets and put them on the chicks food? or do I just provide both foods and hope the chicks don't eat the layer pellets? what does everyone do?

Thanks!!

oh, and I think my silkie is going broody. she laid an egg this afternoon and I had just put new shavings in it, she hasn't gotten out ever since LOL she is in the chicks sleeping quarters.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Everyone can eat chick feed, but the not everyone should be eating the high calcium layer feed. Young birds, pre-lay, have no egg to lay, thus, no way to expel all that loaded calcium that is in layer formula. It is very hard and potentially damaging to the pre-layers renal tract.

As for introducing new birds, sometimes it helps to have them get used to each other through a dividing screen for a few days before being thrust together, upsetting the pecking order that is OH so important to chickens.

If after a week, there is still a bully? Pull out that bully and put her in confinement for a week. Re-introduce and perhaps she will have lost her place and mellowed out a bit.

 

[sheeshshe]

they've been out together with the fence between for a few weeks already. still the bully.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Time for some bully jail time.

 

[sheeshshe]

OK, that is what I figured. Poor Pouncer, LOL.

now to figure out the food thing as the feeder is FULL right now with the layer pellets