FoxRiverRat
Chirping
- Feb 5, 2016
- 38
- 2
- 54
Hi All!
I had 4 2 year old Cinnamon Queen/Production Red/Golden Comet already, and recently purchased 4 more from a farmer who had too many layers. He said they are also 2 years old. They certainly look full grown ( and 2 of them already laid) BUT for whatever reason, they are not quite as big as my original 4.
Our introduction actually went pretty smoothly on Saturday with minor pecking, but nothing excessive. They all slept together Saturday night. Sunday morning I go out to check on them very early. We have an automatic door, and the original 4 were outside, but NONE of the new hens. I let a few lay and didn't want to interrupt that, but once no one was in the nesting box, I gently forced the new hens outside. This too was pretty peaceful. Minor pecking, nothing major.
Fast forward to this morning. I go out in the morning, again only my original 4 hens are outside, all 4 new hens are inside the coop. I again gently push them our the coop door, only this time right when they hit the chicken run they get attacked by my old hens. 3 of my 4 old hens are being mean.
I thought by adding 4 hens to 4 hens it would help mitigate the bullying, but it is certainly seeming now like my original 4 that are slightly bigger are being real mean.
Now, I have food and water inside the coop (as well as outside) so I know everyone can get access to water and food and the nesting box, but I clearly want the new hens be able to go outside without excessive bullying.
should I just be a bit patient for the pecking order to sort out or should I take my 3 mean original hens out, put in a dog crate and re-introduce them in a day or so? Thanks for the thoughts, I truly do appreciate it.
I had 4 2 year old Cinnamon Queen/Production Red/Golden Comet already, and recently purchased 4 more from a farmer who had too many layers. He said they are also 2 years old. They certainly look full grown ( and 2 of them already laid) BUT for whatever reason, they are not quite as big as my original 4.
Our introduction actually went pretty smoothly on Saturday with minor pecking, but nothing excessive. They all slept together Saturday night. Sunday morning I go out to check on them very early. We have an automatic door, and the original 4 were outside, but NONE of the new hens. I let a few lay and didn't want to interrupt that, but once no one was in the nesting box, I gently forced the new hens outside. This too was pretty peaceful. Minor pecking, nothing major.
Fast forward to this morning. I go out in the morning, again only my original 4 hens are outside, all 4 new hens are inside the coop. I again gently push them our the coop door, only this time right when they hit the chicken run they get attacked by my old hens. 3 of my 4 old hens are being mean.
I thought by adding 4 hens to 4 hens it would help mitigate the bullying, but it is certainly seeming now like my original 4 that are slightly bigger are being real mean.
Now, I have food and water inside the coop (as well as outside) so I know everyone can get access to water and food and the nesting box, but I clearly want the new hens be able to go outside without excessive bullying.
should I just be a bit patient for the pecking order to sort out or should I take my 3 mean original hens out, put in a dog crate and re-introduce them in a day or so? Thanks for the thoughts, I truly do appreciate it.
