Integration in a new coop

[JosiesMom]

I have two flocks of girls, two were born April 2018 and the other three were born this Feb. I have had them out to free range together some, last night their new coop was finished and they are now all together. The two older girls are scared to death of the other three. The easter egger is especially aggressive. How much is normal and how much is too much?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Pecking, and some screaming and running is normal. Pecking continuously, running each other down, or cornering and pecking is too much and you should intervene.

Places to escape either by going under, over, or behind can help.

Are they confined now? Definitely keep a close eye on the situation, and intervene if necessary.

 

[JosiesMom]

When you say intervene, how far do I take this,just stepping in at them or more?

 

[Mrs. K]

Clutter up things big time. Put anything in the run and coop that you can. Small pieces of plywood, leaned against a wall, pallets, ladders, old chairs, even a cardboard box or a tote on its side. This allows birds to get out of sight of each other and should help. I would not interfere unless someone is bleeding. And don't pull the victim out, pull out the bully.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When you say intervene, how far do I take this,just stepping in at them or more?

Depends on what's going on. I sometimes stand around playing monitor with my chickens if necessary. If you are seeing true aggression than removing or separation by a fence temporarily might be better. Only you can tell if it's all noise and posturing or if it's serious. As long as birds can get away from each other I generally let them work it out.

 

[aart]

I have two flocks of girls, two were born April 2018 and the other three were born this Feb. I have had them out to free range together some, last night their new coop was finished and they are now all together. The two older girls are scared to death of the other three. The easter egger is especially aggressive. How much is normal and how much is too much?

When you see blood.

So these 2 groups have been totally separate their whole lives?
Description and pics of their domiciles would help.

Describe when they "ranged together some", when, for how long and what were the behaviors you observed?

So new coop and you put them all in there together?
Pics of coop, inside and out, would really help here.


These might help, tips about....
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.

 

[JosiesMom]

The large coup is what we just completed for the girls, the smaller red one is where the two older girls lived, and the small one is where the three younger girls lived. They spent several hours out in the yard staying in their two separate groups, but when close together, one of the one young ones always was aggressive toward the older two. They lived totally separate in their coops and runs and all started out in the new coop at the same time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That looks like a nice roomy coop.

 

[JosiesMom]

It is huge compared to where they are living.

 

[aart]

That looks like a nice roomy coop.

It sure does...wants to see more of it!

It is huge compared to where they are living.

For sure!
Looks like you have room to put up several other simple roosts.