My chickens might be racist!

[Henpecked Dad]

My mixed flock was 6 of many colors..2 red, 2 multicolor, 1 black & white, 1 gold and black, and all seemed to get along. But then I added 2 black Australorps and they immediately shunned them.. pushing them away from food & water; refusing to let them roost on any perch; attacking them when they struggled to get a morsel of scraps I tossed..

How can I encourage a little integration in my flock!!??

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

when we add new hens to the flock, we put them inside a wire cage (aka our big dog crate or pen) so they can see each other very well, but not peck. a wire or electric fence would work well if they are free ranging in seperate coops (not what's happening with you, but goo to throw out there).

 

[rosemarythyme]

Did you do a see but no touch before putting them in, and if so, for how long? (If you did, it still wouldn't be surprising to see the new birds harassed for a while until the pecking order re-sorts itself.)

How many feeders/waterers do you have? If there's multiple are they located far enough apart that birds can't see other birds eating at another location?

How big is your coop and run? Is there ample clutter to break up the space physically and visually?

 

[Miami Leghorn]

My mixed flock was 6 of many colors..2 red, 2 multicolor, 1 black & white, 1 gold and black, and all seemed to get along. But then I added 2 black Australorps and they immediately shunned them.. pushing them away from food & water; refusing to let them roost on any perch; attacking them when they struggled to get a morsel of scraps I tossed..

How can I encourage a little integration in my flock!!??

In-group preference isn't racism or racist...it's a natural behavior.

What I would do to break the ice is go to the grocery store pick up a watermelon and some cabbage mix it up and take it from there.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

My mixed flock was 6 of many colors..2 red, 2 multicolor, 1 black & white, 1 gold and black, and all seemed to get along. But then I added 2 black Australorps and they immediately shunned them.. pushing them away from food & water; refusing to let them roost on any perch; attacking them when they struggled to get a morsel of scraps I tossed..

How can I encourage a little integration in my flock!!??

This is simply part of introducing new birds into a flock -- it has nothing to do with the color of the new birds in question, and is a natural reaction to the sudden introduction of outsiders into the flock. It would occur no matter what the new birds look like.

As has been mentioned, a period of look-don't-touch will help get your flock used to the presence of the new birds. Then they can be allowed to properly interact with one another and will eventually get themselves sorted.
Some fighting might break out here and there, but bear in mind that introducing new birds causes a lot of stress for all birds involved and shuffles the entire pecking order around to accommodate the new birds. Everybody needs to find a new spot in the flock.

 

[WallyG74]

In-group preference isn't racism or racist...it's a natural behavior.

Like, “birds of a feather flock together?”

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Like, “bird of a feather flock together?”

I couldn't have said it more eloquently simple as that...thank you my good man.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Chickens hate change and they usually take a while to flock together with newbies no matter how carefully the integration is done.

Especially if the new birds are a different age group from the existing birds since layers don't hang out with the pullets even when the pullets are raised in the flock.

Having pullets starting to lay right now, I'm seeing the girls who have started laying moving into the group with the layers and leaving their hatchmates behind.

If the newbies aren't being beaten up or driven away from food and water then just give them time and the flock will get together eventually.

 

[Henpecked Dad]

when we add new hens to the

I just can't stop.

Did you do a see but no touch before putting them in, and if so, for how long? (If you did, it still wouldn't be surprising to see the new birds harassed for a while until the pecking order re-sorts itself.)

How many feeders/waterers do you have? If there's multiple are they located far enough apart that birds can't see other birds eating at another location?

How big is your coop and run? Is there ample clutter to break up the space physically and visually?

Good ideas. I'm working thru them. Thanks!

, we put them inside a wire cage (aka our big dog crate or pen) so they can see each other very well, but not peck. a wire or electric fence would work well if they are free ranging in seperate coops (not what's happening with you, but goo to throw out there).

I'll know better next time. Thanks!

 

[Henpecked Dad]

I just can't stop.

Too funny. Keep it up! Chicken people have good senses of humor I think..