intergrading chickens

from California, it's called the pecking order and they can be mean. Make sure they don't draw blood, if so separate them immediately. You can try posting to this forum also: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/2/managing-your-flock

 

Welcome to BYC!!! Glad you joined.

 

Hello,

I just went through a similar situation. My two original hens (silver laced and colombian wyandottes) were about 20weeks and my new hen that I was trying to integrate was about 14 weeks. The first time they met, the two original hens wanted to attack the FBCM (French Black Copper Marans) ferociously. I had to segregate the new hen inside the run within her own cage. I would let the two older hens free range most of the day and keep the FBCM free to explore the run/coop. I did this for about a week. At the end of the week I started placing the new hen into the coop while the other two were sleeping. They tend not to attack in the dark. In the morning I would segregate them again with the free ranging/coop tactic. Although I made sure to get up early so that they did not start attacking her when the sun came up, I found that although there seemed to be stress in the enclosed coop, the hens were not physically fighting. This went on for a few days at which point I stopped segregating them as the older hens no longer seemed that interested in the new hen. They would still assert their dominance/pecking order, but it was no longer as harsh. Fast forward a couple more weeks and now they roam around the yard together but the younger one is still a bit cautious around the older two. It takes time, and you have to understand there will be some abuse by the dominant hens, but it will wane over time.


Good luck to you.
Tony

 

Howdy from Kansas, Dorklingmomma, and ! Great to have you with us! Best of luck integrating the newbies.

 

Welcome to BYC. If you try the 'night trick' provide escape places in the coop. In the morning they will still treat her like a stranger. As others have stated chicken society can be cruel and it will take them a while to work out the pecking order. Make sure that your new hen has access to food and water.

 

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. :Sometimes it helps to take the bullys out and place them in a temp. pen for awhile and let the new comer have the pen and get use to it. So when you put the others back in, they are now the newcomers and the pecking might not be as bad. Good luck. thumbsup