Mean Chickens

[julie 3]

I have been trying to add 3 new chickens to the 2 I already have without any success, the new ones are really getting picked on. I have tried everything in my books for raising chickens, items I have read on line and asking people that have chickens what to do. Today I came home and found the babies hiding behind the shed in a 8 inch space. My older chickens are alittle over 2 years old and the new ones are 13 weeks old. Any sugestions that aren't the usual kind. I need some help.

 

[cackleberrycam]

Have you tried separating them by using some chicken wire and then let them interact through it until they are comfortable with one another?

 

[Hinotori]

To much of a size difference to just put them in. Wait until the younger birds are big enough to actually defend themselves. Older birds are more confident and younger ones more flighty.

You can try housing them right next to each other or a week or so to let them meet each other through the fence. I've never had introduction problems with even 8 week olds because they are kept in the pen next to the main pen and after about a week I let them start free ranging together to get to know each other. My latest batch has been trying to get in and roost with the adults for over a month, but they are in the smaller pens right now and there isn't enough room for that.

 

[cackleberrycam]

To much of a size difference to just put them in. Wait until the younger birds are big enough to actually defend themselves. Older birds are more confident and younger ones more flighty.

You can try housing them right next to each other or a week or so to let them meet each other through the fence. I've never had introduction problems with even 8 week olds because they are kept in the pen next to the main pen and after about a week I let them start free ranging together to get to know each other. My latest batch has been trying to get in and roost with the adults for over a month, but they are in the smaller pens right now and there isn't enough room for that.

That is what I was saying too.