Integration troubles

[Rafters]

Hello all!

I have a small all girl flock with 2 barred rocks (6 months old) 2 Pekin ducks (6 mo.), 1 silkie (5 mos) a Ayam Cemani (3.5 mos.) and 1 supposed to be red Wyandotte that’s about 2.5 mos. The barred rocks and Pekins have been together from the start, then the silkie. The ayam cemani has been here about 3 weeks and fit in with no issues. I can’t get them to leave the little one alone. They pluck and peck her with no mercy. When they are all out free-ranging the “Wyandotte” keeps near them, but a safe distance. The issue arises when it’s coop time. We have been limiting her exposure by keeping her in the nesting box/coop area with her own food and water, while the others are in the run area. We have had her now for almost 4 weeks and there has literally been NO progress with them integrating her into the flock. They other girls are BRUTAL with her. Not just the normal few pecks. Any suggestions? We really need to get the nesting box/coop fully open since the barred rocks will hopefully be laying soon.

Also is the “Wyandotte” actually a Wyandotte? 5e images I’ve seen online of that chick variety looks a lot different then mine. It’s the one on my daughters shoulder.

 

[aart]

Couple issues I see right off the bat.
Coop/run is too small for 6 birds...integration most often takes 'extra' space.
Adding a single bird can be the toughest integration,
you go away with it once but the space limit might have hit a tipping point.

Bird on kids shoulder looks to me like a Crested Cream Legbar.


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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Rafters]

Thank you for the quick reply. Yeah I have a feeling we may have to part with her. I agree that I think we are at the limit. They free range daily and go in the run/coop at night. We have a large yard that is secure for them. I was also thinking about getting rid of the ducks. They were my wife’s idea. Only issue there is that all of the remaining birds have bonded. Would hate to get rid of ducks and have them still not accept the young pullet.

Thanks for the breed advice too. Had a feeling it wasn’t quite right.