introducing new chickens: question about "look but don't touch"

[marisaalexandra]

Don't hit them. That's not going to work. If it doesn't work with dogs (who are much higher in intelligence) it's not going to work for chickens

You have two very different breed temperaments. RIRs are known for their bossy attitudes, and BOs are known for their very laid back - submissive personality types. The BOs will be on the bottom for a good while.
I would just let them do what they are doing. They will work it out eventually. Don't let the new ones range until they know where home is (ie: The coop).

Aoxa, thank you again. I was just going out to the coop and literally paused on the way out to check the thread, hoping someone would have chimed in to say don't swat chickens. I've been more unsure of myself than usual with this (I think the emotions of chickens are more contagious than those of any other animal I've cared for!), and when I brought the topic up at dinner my DH started with the whole "well of course you swap the bossy chicken" line-- he said, "it's to show her who's boss. You just don't want to understand how the world works sometimes."

The four people who hae advised me to swat are all men; that fascinates me.

Getting back to the chickens-- yeah, I was worried about the breed difference, but they're going to have to work through it, just like me and my DH. I've been letting the older ones out for a couple of hours a day just to let some steam off in the coop. Is there ay reliable way to know when it's safe to let them all out, when they might range as a flock, so my buffies won't skip town completely?

 

[J-Sanders]

Quote: How do you think the Rooster gets his point across? It isn't by buying the hen a box of chocolates or cleaning out the coop.

I don't think hitting a hen is really necessary, Rooster maybe but not really unless you get an already grown one to work with. But the pecking order will be what it will be unless you remove the top hen.

Jim

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa, thank you again.  I was just going out to the coop and literally paused on the way out to check the thread, hoping someone would have chimed in to say don't swat chickens.  I've been more unsure of myself than usual with this (I think the emotions of chickens are more contagious than those of any other animal I've cared for!), and when I brought the topic up at dinner my DH started with the whole "well of course you swap the bossy chicken" line-- he said, "it's to show her who's boss.  You just don't want to understand how the world works sometimes." 
The four people who hae advised me to swat are all men; that fascinates me.

Getting back to the chickens--  yeah, I was worried about the breed difference, but they're going to have to work through it, just like me and my DH.  I've been letting the older ones out for a couple of hours a day just to let some steam off in the coop.  Is there ay reliable way to know when it's safe to let them all out, when they might range as a flock, so my buffies won't skip town completely?

I have never had a chicken run away. Even after only a few days in the coop for lockdown. Even when they were low on the pecking order. As long as they know where their food, water, and shelter is, they will go back. They may hide somewhere close to the coop. They will not skip town

The person bellow who posted. I agree that a rooster is the only one you would want to show you are boss to. You don't have that issue though. Don't hit your chickens lol. I have sprayed a rooster with a hose who was picking on another rooster relentlessly. That kept him away for a good couple of hours

I have never seen a rooster attack a hen. So I don't know where that is supposed to come into effect.

All I can say is let them work it out for themselves unless blood is drawn. Don't worry about them skipping town. Keep them cooped for a week - then let them free run if you want. They most likely won't stick together as a flock once free ranging. They will break up into two groups. You won't likely see them act as one flock for some time.

I think I covered everything.. I'm a bit distracted at the moment

 

[lahowardjr]

I have Orphingtons and Rocks and they do well together. Rhoad Island Reds are a little more aggressive then the Orphs. They will continue to work out the pecking order for a week or so. Don't worry too much.

 

[marisaalexandra]

How do you think the Rooster gets his point across? It isn't by buying the hen a box of chocolates or cleaning out the coop.

Wouldn't that be nice, though?!

Actually the last rooster I had used to do the wing-fanning-and-dragging dance for the ladies. Sometimes. It was so endearing that we tolerated a lot of other stuff while he was here.

The question for me, behind your post, is this: am I supposed to "be the rooster" in order to cement the hierarchy with ME at top? I know that dog trainers say you have to be the alpha dog or whatever, but I've never figured out how to speak about the optimal relation I should have to my chickens. Yeah-- granted-- overthinking it again!! But I think this part of what's interesting about living close to animals: seeing what they bring out in human nature.

Thanks, all, for the reassurances about the newbies flying off. That really helps.

 

[J-Sanders]

Yes, it makes working and playing with your chickens a much more enjoyable time if you are the dominant chicken. You may still get challenged occasionally though.

The best way to assert dominance over any chicken is to pick them up and carry them around like a football. You have to do it a lot and consistently. It is much easier if you bond with the chicks when they are just hatched and proceed to handle them regularly as they grow up.

Jim

 

[wastintime202]

I agree with Aoxa..hitting won't help because they won't understand why you are picking on them..and the drama will still scare the young ones more. She is also right about letting the young ones free range..Mine got out while the older ones were out free ranging and I had to chase them like crazy to get them back in..finally had to wait until the sun went down and caught them easily..but I was worried about hawks as we have so many in our area. Hope your little ones are getting along better now..mine seem to finally be fitting in a little and are not so scared.

 

[marisaalexandra]

Quick, grateful update: I have a partition in my coop enabling me to separate the birds, and during the day they range in two groups (newbies and old girls) and stay out of each other's ways. For a week I quietly slipped the new birds into the coop at night on the roosting perch next to the older hens, and they seemed peaceful usually until just after dawn, when I let them out. About a week and a half after the introduction I went out to stash the new girls on the perch and they were already there.

It didn't create a magical union among my four birds, but at least they sleep together and tolerate each other's presence in the coop on that perch during storms and so on. I guess I'll know it's all good when they range together.

Aoxa-- you were right-- they all always come home.

I haven't hit them but I do scold almost as much as they do!!