Mean mature hens

[Jeanne Deaux]

Hi,
I have 12 chickens at 11 and 13 weeks of age (Dominiques, Black Australorps, and RIR-mixes) but am anticipating culling 4-5 roosters so I got three new mature hens (Barred Rocks) last Saturday. I separated them until Sunday night when I put them in to sleep with the others. Now they are dominating and keeping all the other 12 from coming in the hen house to food and water. They are so mean!! And they haven't laid an egg since they arrived. The young roosters are apparently no match for them. Anything I should do to mitigate their reign?
Thanks much--your combined advice over the past week since I joined has been wonderful.

 

[cavemanrich]

You are witnessing pecking order in action. The barred rocks are not mean,,, they are at the top of the pecking order. They are full grown adult VS the rest being juveniles. Give the food in the run or free range area. After the 3 get their lions share, the rest will have a chance to eat as well. Pecking order is most evident around food. Eventually all will be happy together. Remember that introducing new comers can work both ways. In your case its like " da gangsterz came to town " LOL LOL

WISHING YOU BEST..

 

[Jeanne Deaux]

Okay, thanks. Can I expect eggs from the new, mature hens anytime soon?? Or is the fact that it is hot as well as a new lodging going to mean a long break for them? And will they find the nest boxes on their own??

 

[cavemanrich]

They should start laying soon. Heat, and relocation does cause some stress. Your nest boxes are more appealing if they have hay or straw nests in them. Not sure what yours have. Place them into the nests and let them get the feel of it. Obviously they will exit , but may remember that the option is there.

 

[Jeanne Deaux]

Yes, the nest boxes have fresh straw and pine shavings in a nice soft nest. I can't get near these hens to put them in there unless I were to do it while they are sleeping, which doesn't seem like a good idea, no?

 

[cavemanrich]

Try to catch them, caress them until they are calm. and slip into nest. Do one at a time. Maybe you only need to teach one and rest will learn. Barred rocks are not pterodactyls. so not much danger here. If you only are able to do it when they go nity nite. then it OK too. Most chickens prefer to sleep on the roost than in a nest. ( except when broody ).

 

[donrae]

I agree to set up double food and water stations.

Another idea is to pull two of the mature hens out for a few days. Add one at a time back in to the teens. This can help break up their pack mentality.

 

[aart]

I'd not bother trying to show them the nests, catching them will only stress them out more.
Just make sure the nests are easily accesses and maybe put some fake eggs/golf balls in there.

Are the birds confined to coop and run...or free ranged?
Is there plenty of space for that many birds?

 

[Jeanne Deaux]

The outer pen area is about 500 square feet and secured top and bottom from predators. So partial free-range, just safe. I think it's enough room for 3 mature and 12 adolescent birds for the time being, no?

 

[aart]

The outer pen area is about 500 square feet and secured top and bottom from predators. So partial free-range, just safe. I think it's enough room for 3 mature and 12 adolescent birds for the time being, no?

Sounds good, that's about what I have for 15 birds...with 20 plus it got a bit tight.
Setting up places to hide 'out of line of sight' (but not dead end traps) and get up and away from aggressors can help with the integration.

How big is the coop?
Coop space is important during integration and will become much more important as the nights lengthen and then snow starts to pile up.