Intergrating new chicks with over protective mama into flock

[lisaequine1]

It seems that as the mommy hens start acting less "mommy-ish" the others get along with them much better. They just apparently are annoyed by the weird clucking and such. I did just successfully get two mommies moved back into the flock without much fuss. I've been just taking them out to mingle in the evening while everyone is free and it's been steadily getting easier and easier every time. Even the ones that were getting into bad fights are getting along better, not that they aren't still getting bullied, but it seems that somebody at least backs down now.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

One of my broodies is a dominent hen, she had no trouble clearing out a path and integrating the chicks, another hen, not as easy...if they didn't have the room to run away it would have been much harder.

 

[Soap Junkie]

I thought mine was the dominant due to the fighting that started after she was locked up in her broody cage for a week, but now I dont know. She does start to fight back and then she runs off squaking. She just acts petrified. Which who can blame her, its not one on one here, its 4 on one!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Take two out,even up the odds some. Have you tried it?

 

[Soap Junkie]

I have not tried that yet. I have 10 chickens, minus the mama is 9 and I dont have a seperate pen for them, just the dog crate that the mama and chicks are in now. Do you think I should try to seperate them now? or wait until she is done with raising the chicks?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh, I thought you wanted them all together...they are in the dog pen now? Completely separate, maybe it would be safest

 

[Soap Junkie]

I really do want them all together but I cant because they are trying to kill the mama. So I have the mama and the chicks in the kenel in the coop where eveyone can see each other. When I try to blend them together then they attach the mama. They dont bother with the chicks just the mama.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

right. You said there seems to be one that is leading the attack, then they all jump in....I would try to isolate the leader, even if it's a temp cardboard box--with vent of course...and see if it changes anything. That's all. Broodies don't usually get along with the flick anyway...they tend to stay apart, you may not have the room for that...I don't know?

 

[Soap Junkie]

That is so correct, I do not have the room at all. I have a large coop, 10 x 12 and the run is 10x20, but that is not very large if we are talking about 20 chickens! Man, I cant believe I have 20 chickens! Well some are more then likley going to be roosters, and I can not keep those but I think 15 is a good number. I am hoping to be able to sell some eggs to help pay for grain and as it is now, 3 families are eating them all up! I think next Saturday I am going to try to put them back together and see who the culprit is. She will go in the kennel and I am going to move her to the garage for a week and then try to reintroduce her. Hopefully this will work or I am going to be having chicken noodle soup!

 

[Scrambles55]

That is so correct, I do not have the room at all. I have a large coop, 10 x 12 and the run is 10x20, but that is not very large if we are talking about 20 chickens! Man, I cant believe I have 20 chickens! Well some are more then likley going to be roosters, and I can not keep those but I think 15 is a good number. I am hoping to be able to sell some eggs to help pay for grain and as it is now, 3 families are eating them all up! I think next Saturday I am going to try to put them back together and see who the culprit is. She will go in the kennel and I am going to move her to the garage for a week and then try to reintroduce her. Hopefully this will work or I am going to be having chicken noodle soup!

I am curious... did you ever solve the problem with your momma hen and the flock?? I have a momma who is slightly crippled from being broody and one if my hens like to attack her when they are together. My chicks are 4 weeks old. If in 4-5 weeks Penny keeps attacking the momma, I am thinking about rehoming her. The other 2 hens are fine. How did your situation get resolved? Thanks.............