Integrating Newbies - Not Going Well

[Orit]

I thought I had posted about this already but can't seem to find the thread so posting again. For the past 5-6 weeks, I have been introducing my now 15-week-old chickens (3 of them) to my existing mature flock of 6. I've been doing it gradually and in steps, but we are still far from treating each other nicely. One hen in particular, who is actually the lowest in the pecking order of my main flock, is terrorizing the newbies. She pecks viciously and pulls out feathers. I sequestered her for a few days, but that didn't help. We have made some progress though. They are now all able to free-range in the yard peacefully as long as the newbies keep their distance. If they get too close to her, she goes after them. I had had the newbies in an old iguana cage inside the run for a few weeks to keep them safe and get everyone used to each other but they found a new home on top of the cage once I started keeping the door to the cage open. I wanted to be rid of the cage to (a) give everyone more room, and (b) to further support integration. Someone on this forum suggested to create clutter in the run so the newbies would have places to hide and be out of sight, out of mind. So I put in a pallet and additional roosts higher up (pictured below). Now the newbies live at the top of the pallet or on the roosts. The only time they come down is when everyone is out free-ranging, and only then will they go near the food and water. What to do??? They are so skittish and terrified of the bully (and one other hen who is a tiny bit more aggressive than the rest of them). Will they ever get along and be able to share space?

?

 

[jlwquilter]

I’m so sorry it’s not going well. I had a similar issue and it was a disaster unfortunately.

The biggest concern I have right now for your newbies is the access to food and water you mention. That was an issue I had too and I’m pretty certain my youngest pullet died from the combo of stress and lack of food and water access. The other hens did get food and water but not as much as they should have. I was even more clueless then and didn’t realize the severity of the situation until too late for the pullet. And once I segregated out the aggressive hens (I moved them on shortly afterwards) feed consumption went way up. That water was also an issue made worse by the hot summer weather hitting at that time too. I did put out multiple feeders and watered but it didn’t really solve the problem for me. Looking back I should have separated the flocks much faster with their own food and water and no contact.

I Hope your situation goes better than mine did! But please do figure out a safe place, maybe some separation, during feeding and time to drink for the newbies.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I thought I had posted about this already but can't seem to find the thread so posting again. For the past 5-6 weeks, I have been introducing my now 15-week-old chickens (3 of them) to my existing mature flock of 6. I've been doing it gradually and in steps, but we are still far from treating each other nicely. One hen in particular, who is actually the lowest in the pecking order of my main flock, is terrorizing the newbies. She pecks viciously and pulls out feathers. I sequestered her for a few days, but that didn't help. We have made some progress though. They are now all able to free-range in the yard peacefully as long as the newbies keep their distance. If they get too close to her, she goes after them. I had had the newbies in an old iguana cage inside the run for a few weeks to keep them safe and get everyone used to each other but they found a new home on top of the cage once I started keeping the door to the cage open. I wanted to be rid of the cage to (a) give everyone more room, and (b) to further support integration. Someone on this forum suggested to create clutter in the run so the newbies would have places to hide and be out of sight, out of mind. So I put in a pallet and additional roosts higher up (pictured below). Now the newbies live at the top of the pallet or on the roosts. The only time they come down is when everyone is out free-ranging, and only then will they go near the food and water. What to do??? They are so skittish and terrified of the bully (and one other hen who is a tiny bit more aggressive than the rest of them). Will they ever get along and be able to share space?View attachment 1868348 View attachment 1868349 View attachment 1868350 View attachment 1868351 ?

In your first picture I see 3 red birds and 2 of those have feathers missing on their heads.
Looks like there are some dominance issues in the original flock.
That makes it harder to integrate.

Can you do a small add on to the existing run so your new birds can be separate from the resident meanies?

How big is the coop?
How big is the run?

I am thinking you need more space to start with.

 

[Milkshakeroo]

I thought I had posted about this already but can't seem to find the thread so posting again. For the past 5-6 weeks, I have been introducing my now 15-week-old chickens (3 of them) to my existing mature flock of 6. I've been doing it gradually and in steps, but we are still far from treating each other nicely. One hen in particular, who is actually the lowest in the pecking order of my main flock, is terrorizing the newbies. She pecks viciously and pulls out feathers. I sequestered her for a few days, but that didn't help. We have made some progress though. They are now all able to free-range in the yard peacefully as long as the newbies keep their distance. If they get too close to her, she goes after them. I had had the newbies in an old iguana cage inside the run for a few weeks to keep them safe and get everyone used to each other but they found a new home on top of the cage once I started keeping the door to the cage open. I wanted to be rid of the cage to (a) give everyone more room, and (b) to further support integration. Someone on this forum suggested to create clutter in the run so the newbies would have places to hide and be out of sight, out of mind. So I put in a pallet and additional roosts higher up (pictured below). Now the newbies live at the top of the pallet or on the roosts. The only time they come down is when everyone is out free-ranging, and only then will they go near the food and water. What to do??? They are so skittish and terrified of the bully (and one other hen who is a tiny bit more aggressive than the rest of them). Will they ever get along and be able to share space?View attachment 1868348 View attachment 1868349 View attachment 1868350 View attachment 1868351 ?

When I introduced my 2 girls to an established flick with a rooster, just like you have done, my Isa Brown was a total bitch to the newbies. It has taken a while but they are integrated. I found the free ranging was the safest way to go as the young ones could escape the most evil hen. The rooster would do his sideways shuffle towards the newbies but never actually attacked. The Australorp is now his favourite, probably because she will let him mate without running away like the leghorn cross.

 

[Milkshakeroo]

When I introduced my 2 girls to an established flick with a rooster, just like you have done, my Isa Brown was a total bitch to the newbies. It has taken a while but they are integrated. I found the free ranging was the safest way to go as the young ones could escape the most evil hen. The rooster would do his sideways shuffle towards the newbies but never actually attacked. The Australorp is now his favourite, probably because she will let him mate without running away like the leghorn cross.

On that note, I read here a lot that roosters are meant to keep the peace but my rooster doesn’t seem to intervene in any fights. He just struts around and finds the girls food. Whoever gets there first or is top of the pecking order gets the treat.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

On that note, I read here a lot that roosters are meant to keep the peace but my rooster doesn’t seem to intervene in any fights. He just struts around and finds the girls food. Whoever gets there first or is top of the pecking order gets the treat.

During our integration, the established rooster was no help. He just piled on with whatever drama his hens started... I found integration pretty tough, which is why I’ve liked chicks raised by a broody within the flock. On another thread, pinless peepers were used to keep bullies preoccupied and unable to peck the newbies; that seemed to work well...

 

[aart]

How big is the coop?
How big is the run?
I am thinking you need more space to start with.

My thoughts exactly...more space makes everything easier.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Orit]

In your first picture I see 3 red birds and 2 of those have feathers missing on their heads.
Looks like there are some dominance issues in the original flock.
That makes it harder to integrate.

Can you do a small add on to the existing run so your new birds can be separate from the resident meanies?

How big is the coop?
How big is the run?

I am thinking you need more space to start with.

Wouldn't you know it - those 2 red hens (Red Stars) are the ones that are terrorizing the newbies. Are they just being bullies because they get the brunt of the pecks in their own flock? I think you are right about space. It seems that I definitely need more. What was I thinking getting 3 new chicks?

 

[Orit]

When I introduced my 2 girls to an established flick with a rooster, just like you have done, my Isa Brown was a total bitch to the newbies. It has taken a while but they are integrated. I found the free ranging was the safest way to go as the young ones could escape the most evil hen. The rooster would do his sideways shuffle towards the newbies but never actually attacked. The Australorp is now his favourite, probably because she will let him mate without running away like the leghorn cross.

Glad to hear you had success!!! I don't have a rooster Like you, I am most at ease when they are free-ranging, which is pretty much most of the day during the summer. So at least I know they are safe from harm during the day.

 

[Orit]

During our integration, the established rooster was no help. He just piled on with whatever drama his hens started... I found integration pretty tough, which is why I’ve liked chicks raised by a broody within the flock. On another thread, pinless peepers were used to keep bullies preoccupied and unable to peck the newbies; that seemed to work well...

I've been reading about the pinless peepers and while the majority of reviews are positive, there were enough reviews that talked about injured nostrils, "bloody noses", puss coming out, etc... that Im feeling reluctant.