New addition to my flock, aggressive behavior

[DanielleS]

Hello, all! I have a flock of 9. Two I raised from chicks, two groups of three who came about two weeks apart, and one I added yesterday. There has been an adjustment period each time I added new ones, but no real aggression and it passed quickly. The one I brought home yesterday - a Wheaton Ameraucana - is having a rough time. Several of the flock are being very aggressive toward her, and she just looks terrified. I've been separating her to give her a break, but every time I put her back in with the other it starts. The strangest is one of the hens, another Ameraucana, who keeps laying on top of her. I keep walking up to the coop and finding them in the corner, heads down, with one on top of the new one. What is this?? How do I help poor Cloudy adjust?

 

[bobbi-j]

As you mentioned, every time you add to or subtract from the flock there is an adjustment period. Unless they're drawing blood, I'd leave her in there so they can get their pecking order sorted out. When you keep taking her out and putting her in, it starts all over again.

 

[katelk]

Sorting out the pecking order is something I have still not gotten used to. It seems horrible and aggressive, but unless they are seriously harming her, I would let it happen. Minimally bloody combs have happened with mine sorting things out. Once they get past this, everything should be fine. Taking her away to have a break is just creating a situation where you are basically reintroducing her for the first time again and starting the process over. It will be in her best interest if you just let them sort it out. Just keep an eye out for blood. If anyone gets a bloody comb or anything, I usually pat some dirt on it if it is just a scrape, or if it seems a bit worse I mix a tiny bit of blue food coloring with a little dot of neosporin and cover it. The others will peck more at a bloody spot so that is the main thing to look out for.