Introducing behaviour

[Jess2591]

Hi everyone,

I have an Isa brown who lost her best friend. The Isa is about 8 months old.

We purchased 3 new girls (1 Isa and 2 silkies) which they are around the 16 week mark. We purchased these girls from the same breeder as our original Isa.

our new girls have been separate from our Isa and she didn’t know they were around.

however we are now trying to add them in as our breeder has recommended but our original Isa is being a little aggressive with ripping there feathers out when she chases them. Is this part of the pecking order? After she rips a feather or the new hens scream out, our original Isa runs at full speed to the other side of the coop yelling out until she reaches behind a tree.

she has been an only hen for over a week and has been spoilt rotten while waiting to introduce her to her new friends. Our breeder seems to think she may have preferred being an only hen due to her personality.

the new girls and the original seem to be fine though of a night sleeping in the same coop.

should we maybe section off a part of the coop so our original Isa can see them but not touch them?

thanks in advance for your replies

 

[azygous]

This is normal behavior. It will settle down once the original hen is convinced the new crew have developed the proper level of respect for her as the home queen.

Try not to get too upset over the behavior. Leaving them all to work it out will actually relegate it to a much shorter break-in period than if you meddle.

If the behavior persists beyond two or three days, you may need to do the separation thing. Don't worry about roosting at night. That's the least problematic situation as all will be most intent on settling in for the night.

 

[aart]

If they are sleeping together at night, I wouldn't separate.
Do they all go to roost on their own, with just a little ruckus?

How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics might help here.

Here's some other tips.
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.