Integration NIGHTMARE! Are some chickens destined to not get along?

[Trish1974]

I've integrated birds several times over the past 3 years, always using @aart 's method and NEVER had a problem... until now. I bought out a local breeder's large fowl Araucana stock, and in the lot was an OLD retired show hen with the most perfectly even tufts I have ever seen. This old hen still lays 3-4 times a week, and I need her in the pen with my black cock to even out his uneven tufts in future offspring. However, his main hen is not having any part of it.

I did the two weeks of see but no touch. There was roughly 3 feet of fence between the two. After one week, I removed the fence so there was just a dividing fence between them. The hens started going at it immediately, and I figured they will just have to work it out. Well, the fighting was NON STOP. All day long, these two old biddies will fight until they are worn out, panting, and have bloody faces. I added the fence back in; this time with just a foot dividing them. I let a whole week go by and everything seemed fine. They would lay and dust bathe right up against their respective fences without a problem. Yesterday I removed the fence, and immediately, this:

They will do this ALL DAY LONG. Like two cockbirds going at it. To the point of both of them collapsing from exhaustion. I added the fence back in. Is more time needed (which I really can't spare as I want to incubate eggs in one month) or are some chickens just destined to not get along?

 

[llombardo]

I feel your pain. Last year when I tried integrating girls that were 6 weeks apart in age it was a nightmare. I did the see no touch for over a month and it didn't wirk. One year later they are still trying to figure it out. Not as bad as what you apparently have, but still ongoing. I recently list one of the older girls, so the other one has completely taken over and she keeps 12 girls in their place--no one has challenged her yet.

 

[jolenesdad]

I’ve never tried as long as you have.... because someone has to go at that point. Wish I could offer more assistance there.

Just wanted to say what if you swap the arrangement? Put the favored hen on the other side of the fence and the new lady with the others?

I would try a few things. First just simply switching positions and see if the newbie integrates. If so, great, keep that going and toss the rooster to the other side once a week to keep both girls fertilized.

If that isn’t working, I would really isolate the bully out of sight for a few days, see if you can integrate the new one and then bring her back. It can take two weeks sometimes of isolation. You’ve still got some time for this if you want to wait a month to incubate.

I wouldn’t be too worried about her coming back to the group if she is the favorite. MOST bullies don’t have a problem coming back in, but hopefully sometimes they have had an attitude adjustment.

 

[llombardo]

I tried that.. removing the two from the rest of the group. They were seperated for a couple months and walked back in and completely took over. I do think putting the new one with the others may help even it out.

I hope this works for the OP.

 

[aart]

Yikes!
Some girls are just biotches.
Might take months of juggling,meanwhile better to keep them form doing that with a solid barrier?
Or you could put the perfect tufted with the cockbird of your choice in a breeding pen to get some eggs to hatch.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yikes!
Some girls are just biotches.
Might take months of juggling,meanwhile better to keep them form doing that with a solid barrier?
Or you could put the perfect tufted with the cockbird of your choice in a breeding pen to get some eggs to hatch.

This was my thought as well...put the hen you want to hatch eggs from with the roo in a pen.

 

[Trish1974]

Or you could put the perfect tufted with the cockbird of your choice in a breeding pen to get some eggs to hatch.

This was my thought as well...put the hen you want to hatch eggs from with the roo in a pen.

UGH! That's going to be a total pain in the arse (he'll need to keep both sides fertile), but it sounds like that's what I'm going to have to do. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[igorsMistress]

UGH! That's going to be a total pain in the arse (he'll need to keep both sides fertile), but it sounds like that's what I'm going to have to do. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Sounds like he's goung to be very popular for a bit. Can you move just him from one side to the other? Two weeks here, two there?

 

[aart]

UGH! That's going to be a total pain in the arse (he'll need to keep both sides fertile), but it sounds like that's what I'm going to have to do. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Maybe. Will be interesting to hear wow it works out.
He shouldn't have any problem with that, few days should keep them fertile for at least 2 weeks.

 

[Trish1974]

Sounds like he's goung to be very popular for a bit. Can you move just him from one side to the other? Two weeks here, two there?

Yes, I can do that. I'm sure he won't mind !