Mean hen- I want to create a confusion day

[kristip]

Ok looking for advice. I have a small coop with 5 chickens in it currently. They all came from the same farm, but at 2 different times. They range from about a year and a half to 9 month old. 2 of them are super sweet, my 9 month old teenagers are a little skittish, but once held, calm down and one mean white rock.
There is lots of room in coop and run. I would say it could house 10 chickens easily. (Wish DH would let me get that many... another story)
Anyway, Had a friend give me a sweet little silkie girl. Put her in at night when everyone was already roosted for bed. She curled up in a corner and seemed fine. Next morning I brought lots of snacks out and she seemed fine. When I got home from work, her back had been plucked and one nasty peck in the back. I took her out and blue koted her and tried to put her back in. Noticed the white rock went after her very aggressively and once she started it, the 9 month olds joined in. The other two didnt snap at her unless she ran into them to stay away from the white rock.

She is in an old rabbit cage at the moment healing. For lonliness and to get to know the other birds, DH says lets push the little cage up against the run so they can see each other. Oh and I have 2 ten week olds in the basement that are getting close to big enough for the coop.

Here is my plan and tell me your thoughts... I want to create a day of confusion. I have a friend who has agreed to take the white rock and swap with a gentler buff orp that is about a year. I would do that swap on a Friday when I am home from work, then put in the new bird as well as the 2 young ones and the silkie. Probably in 2 weeks. We also are going to add some more roosts and change things around. Is this enough confusion that will help the old birds with the new birds being added.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

 

[tammye]

I have one bully in my group when she is acting up, must be PMS, I isolate her seems to calm her down for a while

 

[FireTigeris]

well what about quarantine?

 

[kristip]

Quarantine for who? The silkie is there until my plan to move everyone around. And I am getting rid of the worst bully of the group...

 

[FireTigeris]

For the swap bird, unless I am misreading, you:

removed a bully to a hospital pen
are introducing a silkie who is healing up
have two more birds to introduce soon

and are going to trade the bully for a nicer hen.

I guess if you are not doing QT (quarantine) and you do this at night after roosting it might work really well, understand there is a chance that your flock gets something form one of the birds you are introducing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12751&p=10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=455030

Just be careful and good luck.

 

[naakte]

isnt it risky to put a strange hen in.

 

[Judy]

I like pushing the rabbit cage with the Silkie near the run so they can see each other. Your confusion idea might work for the bully rock, I don't know, but there is the danger of disease introduction to think about. Although if the Silkie and the Orp are from the same source, I wouldn't worry about it, if it were going to happen, it already would have.

Usually what is done is the bully is isolated for a week or so, so she is at the bottom of the pecking order until return. this is why isolating the Silkie is a problem -- of course you need to until she heals, just sayin' it complicates things.

Your 10 week olds might add to the confusion and make things go more smoothly, or not -- I wouldn't care to guess that one! Maybe you can add them at the same time you return the Silkie. Besides adding at night, folks often find adding while they are let loose and distracted with treats works out pretty well. Again, I wouldn't care to guess which would work best!

I wish you luck, however you handle this.

 

[FireTigeris]

Oh yeah that's right at least one feed blow per bird/flock for the first week...


then no one can hog the food or starve anyone out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

About a month an a half ago I got 3 Brahma hens from a friend, after their isolations time was up, I came out with dreid meal worms and let the 3 new girls out and started tossing the worms, everyone was so busy running for the mworms they didn't even notice the new girls, The Bhens, went back int the dog crate for a few more nights on their own, then they just followed everyone else into the coop and that was it. I was very surprised at how well it went.

 

[Sorin]

I think you have a great idea and some great suggestions on here. I have gone through similar situations, and my Rocks were always the meanest

Great with people, but did not like new hens coming in. Good luck!