Integration Problems- Dead chicken

[littlechickieskls]

Hello

we have been having MAJOR problems with integrating our 3 “teenager” pullets with our older pullets.
Here is the rundown:
8 ISA Browns and 1 jersey Giant (they are 17 weeks-ish) and a few have just started laying.
then we have 10 week old mixed bunch (mottled houdan, salmon, blue laced Wyandotte).
we have had the teenagers in the coop/run with the others for about 3 weeks. I have an X-pen in the coop that they sleep in and stay in if the big girls are not free ranging.
my mottled houdan got out of the corn and was killed by the big girls a couple days ago. Yesterday I had a few of the big girls in the run with the teenagers so I could see what was going on. I stayed in there with them. I know of 1 definite bully and sure enough she went after the littles but then so did the others.
I was going to remove the known bully for a few days all together and see if that helps.
I figured 3 weeks of “seeing” each other was long enough but it doesn’t seem like it. I have another small batch of babies in the basement who are 5 weeks and I really want to make sure I get this under control so I don’t lose anymore we are all so sad about our houdan.
Sorry this is so long! Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[RainbowHen]

Remove the bully. Keep her away and locked up for a while. This will knock her down on the pecking order. Good luck!

 

[RainbowHen]

Can you put them together in a separate pen or free ranging? Not being in their usual territory can help as they are too busy to notice each other. How big is your pen/coop?

 

[50-45-1]

Space is the issue.
Crowding chickens is always bad.
You have to provide lots if room for integration and escape routes and hide areas for the younger birds so they can get away from the bullying.
Also give the other chickens things to occupy there time. Stuff to dig and scratch thru, hang a cabbage, throw in some haw or grass clippings, sections of sod...
Make the run very messy with extra roosts and sight blockers, (crates, blocks if wood, anything to give cover and interest.
Once the pecking order is more established things will settle down.
Your heavy top hatters and crested birds will always be at more risk because of their limited sight. Plus I think they are more timid.

 

[littlechickieskls]

Space is the issue.
Crowding chickens is always bad.
You have to provide lots if room for integration and escape routes and hide areas for the younger birds so they can get away from the bullying.
Also give the other chickens things to occupy there time. Stuff to dig and scratch thru, hang a cabbage, throw in some haw or grass clippings, sections of sod...
Make the run very messy with extra roosts and sight blockers, (crates, blocks if wood, anything to give cover and interest.
Once the pecking order is more established things will settle down.
Your heavy top hatters and crested birds will always be at more risk because of their limited sight. Plus I think they are more timid.

Thank you! We are in the process of expanding the run. The big girls free range after they lay their eggs for the day and then the teenagers are let into the run. They aren’t big enough to free range yet. Will keep trying.

 

[littlechickieskls]

Can you put them together in a separate pen or free ranging? Not being in their usual territory can help as they are too busy to notice each other. How big is your pen/coop?

The coop is big but we are currently expanding the run. Actually picking up the material today. As they won’t be free ranging as much in the winter we need it bigger. Right now the big girls free range after they lay their eggs for the day and then the teenagers are let into the run. Once the big girls are in the run for the night I take the teenagers into the yard with me for an hour so they can free range a bit. Lots of shuffling around!