My chicken atacks the new one... HELP!!

[Skywarita]

Hello everyone, so I had 2 chickens, one died of coriza and the other one lived and for a while she didnt have any companion because of her disease untill I finally took the risk and brought a new one and so I put her in quarantine. Today I saw my chicken pecking the new one's head and screaming very loud!! ( through the fence) She was jumping and attacking her violently. But the thing is: she really needs a companion. Other than that she spends all day near her outside de fence so idk what to do.... thanks in advance

 

[50-45-1]

Your old hen is establishing herself as boss. She sees the new hen as competition for food and status.
Sometimes what is needed is a battle and a victor, and when that is settled things calm down.
Other times you have constant fighting and one birds bullies the other continually.
At some point after quarentine is over, you are going to just have to see what happens.
Dont intefear until real damage and harm is being done.
Good luck!

 

[aart]

Fence separation is not 'quarantine'.
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Just be patient, it will take time..make sure they can get way from fence to keep from being pecked.

Here's some tips that might help.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Skywarita]

Your old hen is establishing herself as boss. She sees the new hen as competition for food and status.
Sometimes what is needed is a battle and a victor, and when that is settled things calm down.
Other times you have constant fighting and one birds bullies the other continually.
At some point after quarentine is over, you are going to just have to see what happens.
Dont intefear until real damage and harm is being done.
Good luck!

Thank u for your reply. I noticed that after that small attack, they REALLY calmed down!! No more violence happened since that moment. Im so glad!

 

[Skywarita]

Fence separation is not 'quarantine'.
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Just be patient, it will take time..make sure they can get way from fence to keep from being pecked.

Here's some tips that might help.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Thank you SOO much for this information its really useful... Happily they calmed down after a while and no harm was done ^_^ im really happy

 

[aart]

Glad they calmed....one good pecking order fight often takes care of things.

 

[chickens really]

Just setting and settling who is top Chicken. Glad it's all working for you...

 

[Skywarita]

Glad they calmed....one good pecking order fight often takes care of things.

True they did!! But i Just found the new one with blood on her beak and in a wing...Im not sure if I should worry about it

 

[chickens really]

True they did!! But i Just found the new one with blood on her beak and in a wing...Im not sure if I should worry about it

How big is the Coop and Run?..Territory fights are common without enough space

 

[Skywarita]

Just setting and settling who is top Chicken. Glad it's all working for you...

Thank u, i hope it all goes well!!!