My Barred Rocks are being bullied

[Chickenrox]

OK- the easter bunny brought us four chicks: 2 RIRs and 2 Auracanas that lay brown eggs so we think ther are really Aumericanas. We loved them so much we got 2 barred rocks a couple of months latter. The BRs are almost as big as the other four now so I decided to integrate them. It didn't go so well. I went to check on them and they were hidding behind the hen house in our coop. The other girls peck and chase them. What should I do?

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
Either leave them there, or take them out for good. They will have to establish a pecking order, and for the first few days they may hide.

If its TOO aggressive, and you think that injury is imminent then they need to be separated.

And if your Araucana has a tail, then its probably an EE...

 

[CarriBrown]

There is going to be some fighting for the top and you can't change that. However, you can help the new girls out by putting everyone out together to free range (the new girls can run if they are picked on), or even put them in the same run but have a divider, so they all get used to each other and fight it out through the fence.
It's going to take some work, though. You won't be able to just dump new hens in with existing hens and expect it to work. Do the BRs have a place to hide if they need to?

 

[Chickenrox]

Thanks for your help. I guess the pccking order is a real thing I will keep trying to work on it slowly and I guess in back of the hen house is a fine hidding place for now.

 

[illinichick]

My BR girls ARE the bullies of my flock! My RR have bare tail areas where the BR's peck them while roosting.

 

[JessaLynn]

I've got the same problem but with my silver laced wyandottes.I got them near 3 weeks ago and there still hiding in the coop in the nest boxes away from the others and I have to literally throw them out in the run so they'll move around a bit.My red sars will dash for them thinking there newbies I guess.I have never had this problem for this long.Any suggestions??

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

i had the same issue had 3 barred rocks tried to put them in the pen with the other chickens they got bullied bad pushed around where not allowed to eat they just hid in the corner so i made them they own pen now the barred rocks are doing great and loveing life

 

[9red2blk]

I have a question

 

[9red2blk]

I have quiestion I put my BO pullets in with the older hens . They are 20 weeks old and wanting to lay but the old hens won't let in the nest boxes. Should I separate them or what.
Bob
North West Ind
26 BO
19 RIR BR

 

[JessaLynn]

I would say give them a week or two for the pecking order and if there still acting that way seperate them.Or just put a few more nesting boxes in.The older hens don't consider that there territory.
I guess I got to seperate my SLW because they still are getting picked on and are hiding.It wouldn't be so bad if they wouldn't hide in the nest boxes.They crap all in them.