Integration help please

[Happy Chooks]

Today is the 3rd day of integration. Until now, there has just been bullying and chasing. I just found my very timid BR cockeral huddled in a corner of the run with his head sticking through the fence. He has been pecked pretty good with some blood. I removed him to the baby coop for now.

I'm afraid if I take him away from the others, there will be no way to integrate him later. He's so timid and slow on his feet. (the one that injured itself hatching and although he's 13 weeks, he's still smaller than the others) I think he just got scared out of the coop, and while he was out there they ganged up on him.

I'm going to go get some blue kote. If I put this on his head, can I put him back in today or tonight after roosting? He's got 4 other hatchlings in the grown up coop, I just fear that they will all pick on him if put him in later. Right now, he is liked by his hatch mates. But I don't want him to suffer from pecking either.

I'm getting Ameraucana babies in a couple weeks and so I'll need the baby coop for them.

 

[lovetocook]

Bump

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, I noticed that all the others can get on a roost to avoid a beating. This guy can't get on a roost by himself yet. I put some no pick stuff on it and put him back in the coop with the others. There was a little pecking with his hatch mates, then they settled down. I got a big piece of cardboard and put it up tepee style in the corner he likes to hide. I nailed it against the coop wall so it will stay put. Then I put him in it and showed him his new place to hide. Hopefully it works until this rough patch is over.

 

[chookchick]

Do you have a crate that you could put him in while he heals? and keep him in the coop? Hopefully things go better for him tomorrow. My roo was kind of a wussy too, even though he was large, when he was young (his name was Big Bird). When he got older (I think around 5 months) he became much more confident and put the hens in their place. So their is still hope for your little guy as he matures.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks, I may try that if it doesn't go well today. I have a crate, but I don't know that it will fit in the coop. He has crooked toes, so that makes him slow. And since he injured himself hatching, he still hasn't grown a tail. (I think this is why he can't fly)

I saved his life, and so I feel I have to do all I can to give him a normal chicken life.