Introducing two new chooks!

[NosiphoChooks]

Hiya everyone I'm new here! Lovely to meet you all

I have three POL hens, one buff orpington, one bluebell and one which I can't remember the breed (how embaressing...), it is black with some brown and green feathers around the neck think it is a type of sussex. I am looking to introduce two aracunas after quarantining them. My question is really about integrating the newbies into the flock. Before I got the bluebell and the sussex(?!) I had my orpington in with two cream legbar cockerals. We had them from chicks and they all gre1 up together but unfortunately turned out to be boys and so had to go to a new home. So Popcorn (orpington) was alone for a day or so.

When I introduced the new chickens (about same age and size as popcorn) she became very bossy and when I came to lock them in that night she had pecked loads of Smartie's (bluebell) feathers out around her rump. She seems to have stopped now and they are growing back. I am just worried she might give the other new chooks the same treatment! Should I maybe take her away on her own? Leave the rest together overnight, and then put her back in with them the next day? Will this make her less mean. She was so sweet before these new hens came!

 

[faykokoWV]

you have witness the establishment of a Pecking Order. I usually say no blood no foul, they are always going to peck, but unless there is an bad injury you just have to let them work it out. You never know with a new bird, the new one might be the pecker instead of the peck-ee. I would be careful introducing adult birds to your flock though as they can carry disease that will wipe out your existing flock.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[NosiphoChooks]

Thanks for the welcome and also for the advice. The bum-plucking seems to have calmed down somewhat. Shame though cus shes a beautiful bird but now has a pink bald bum!