Introducing new chickens in with older ones!!

[goonster182]

Up to now i have had 3 hens(adults) and all are doing great! a couple of days ago i bought two ten week old chicks and a 6 week old duck whom are getting on brilliantly! But when i brought these home problems began! I put the 3 new birds into the coop during the night to cause as little hassle , this went all fine and there was no hassle in the coop!! the next morning when i let them out everything seemed fine! but after a while one of the older birds started attacking the young chickens (not the duck) for the last 4 days she has be attacking and harassing the young birds! i took the bird causing hassle on many times now but he still is attacking the young birds and not letting them eat,drink or rest!! the 2 older birds seem to have no problem wit the new birds!! I have very limited space and must house them together and in the same run!! i am very worried for the the young birds and don't know what to do!! I need HELP badly!!

 

[babyrnlc]

I make a pen in the coop with an opening that the little ones can go through and they can retreat back into it and the big ones cannot follow. It has worked well for me two times. By the time the little ones are big enough, they seem to accept them.

This also helps to keep the hens from eating the chick food. I put food and water in the little pen. This time I have a dog house with a baby gate (that is under the other coop) and the side is open enough for the chicks to go through and come back. They can also fly up to the gate and fly over (the chickens cant fit through, just the chicks.)