Disheygirl
Songster
I have eight year-old hens and six three month pullets. There are two coops and two chicken “yards” connected by chicken tunnels. Each yard is about 12x20, and I have multiple feeders and waterers and stuff that breaks up the space so they can’t always see each other.
I integrated the young ones about three weeks ago. As expected there was some light bullying, but there’s plenty of room to get away, so I figured it would eventually cease. I also separate them midday for a few hours and the young ones sleep in a different coop at night.
My home office looks out over the yards, and the three adult girls on the bottom of the pecking order are just relentless with the chasing. Relentless. There have been a few feathers plucked, but no real violence or blood - they’re just mean and chase them.
I have the peeper eyewear and I’m strongly considering putting them on the two worst ones. The littles aren’t being harmed, but what kind of life is it to live in constant fear of the two jerks? Will it make them mean adults? They travel in their little pack of six, but at least once every 30 minutes, someone is being chased. If I put the peepers on the two, am I disrupting the flock dynamic? If so, is the alternative to separate them (keep them contained in one yard each) until they’re basically at POL and big enough to peck back?
I integrated the young ones about three weeks ago. As expected there was some light bullying, but there’s plenty of room to get away, so I figured it would eventually cease. I also separate them midday for a few hours and the young ones sleep in a different coop at night.
My home office looks out over the yards, and the three adult girls on the bottom of the pecking order are just relentless with the chasing. Relentless. There have been a few feathers plucked, but no real violence or blood - they’re just mean and chase them.
I have the peeper eyewear and I’m strongly considering putting them on the two worst ones. The littles aren’t being harmed, but what kind of life is it to live in constant fear of the two jerks? Will it make them mean adults? They travel in their little pack of six, but at least once every 30 minutes, someone is being chased. If I put the peepers on the two, am I disrupting the flock dynamic? If so, is the alternative to separate them (keep them contained in one yard each) until they’re basically at POL and big enough to peck back?