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Introduced new chicken and they are fighting!

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by rebbob, Sep 22, 2016.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 22, 2016 #1
    rebbob

    rebbob New Egg

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    I purchased a few hens one week ago and just went back to the same place and bought one more and the hen I already had jumped on the new hen and started pecking furiously at her head and neck, drawing blood and pulling out feathers. I intentionally purchased another chicken from the same breeder knowing they grew up together, and figured they would definitely get along. I was wrong! I've received a few suggestions on what to do but am open to more ideas. If I do separate them during the day (using chicken wire) is it still ok to put them in the same coop at night to sleep?

    Thanks for your help!
    Rebecca
     
  3. Sep 22, 2016 #2
    oldhenlikesdogs

    oldhenlikesdogs Sits With Chickens Premium Member

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    I wouldn't put them in the coop without separating them for a while. Never put fighting birds in a confined area unless you want dead birds. You will have to pen them side by side for a while before trying to combine them.

    Were the birds from the same pen, and actually raised together? I have many generations of chickens. They don't fight under normal circumstances, but take some from different batches and confine them and they will fight like they never met.
     
  5. Sep 22, 2016 #3
    rebbob

    rebbob New Egg

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    But I don't have two coops, I only built one. And yes, they were from the same pen, born and raised at the same time on the same farm. Weird huh?
     
  7. Sep 22, 2016 #4
    oldhenlikesdogs

    oldhenlikesdogs Sits With Chickens Premium Member

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    It is weird, there should be some bickering but not aggression. If possible you could use some wire to divide your coop up temporarily or to make a area for the new one for a week or so.
     
  9. Sep 23, 2016 #5
    chickens really

    chickens really Overrun With Chickens

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    A week to chicken is a long time...They do not remember each other...Even use a wire dog crate to do the introduction..Look no touch..Keep her confined for a week and hopefully the next time they will be better? You could also lock up the bully using the same method..Pecking order is strong with Chickens...

    Good luck...
     
  11. Sep 23, 2016 #6
    junebuggena

    junebuggena Chicken Obsessed

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    How big is your coop and run? How many birds do you have living in it? What breeds?
     
  13. Sep 23, 2016 #7
    carlf

    carlf Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I'm not surprised.
    Dumping new birds into a flock is not natural.
    Chickens are territorial and it appears your dominant hen is more territorial than others.
    Get them separated before they kill the new hen.
     
  15. Sep 23, 2016 #8
    aart

    aart Chicken Juggler! Premium Member

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    Even if they hatched in the same batch and had lived side by side for a time......
    ......a week is enough to make them strangers, especially when defending a new territory.

    Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
    This is good place to start reading:
    https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
     

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