New and joined flock pecking

[RESQME49]

I just got into chickens with a new coop (6X4 with 4x8 run, extending Friday to 14x4 run) and took in 2 Rhode islands, 2 black sexlinks. Two days later we got 3 isa Browns? All birds are laying and around a year old. The Rhodes started pecking and chasing the isa Browns and now the black sexlinks are joining in too. They chase them around the run from time to time, and I have noticed tonight that the isa Browns aren't roosting in the coop with the other 4. There is plenty room up there (two roosting g bars). My coop is from "the original chicken man" and is his super coop. I Will be free rangi g these birds on my acre but have to keep them penned to orientated to the new coop. Any ideas how to make the 2 reds and 2 blacks chill and accept the isa browns better? This is only day two of having the browns.
Thanks! I haven't witnessed any actual fighting. Just hear a quick scuffle of the brown getting out of the way of the others.

 

[cavemanrich]

Everything you described is a natural part of chicken pecking order. The newcomers are always going to be bullied. RIR are a more dominant breed, but not necessarily viscous. As long as there is no blood drawn , things will shake out for your flock.
WISHING YOU BEST.... and

 

[Teila]

Hey RESQME49

Sorry, I just want to make sure I am interpreting this correctly, you currently have 7 chickens in a 6 x 4 coop with a 4 x 8 run? A 6 x 4 coop is suitable for 6 fully grown large chickens and a 4 x 8 run, 3 fully grown large chickens. If my calculations are right, yep, get started on those extensions

However, even at 14 x 4 on the run, that is suitable for 5 to 6 chickens.

Rule of thumb is 4 square foot of coop space per LF [large fowl] and 10 square foot of run [but you can skimp on that a little if they are free ranging for most of the time which I see you plan to do].

Living in Aus, I am not familiar with the 'Original Chicken Man' but most prefab chicken coops only house half the number of chickens they advertise they accommodate.

Also, you had the original 4 a few days before you added 3 more? Did you quarantine the newbies or just pop them in the coop/run when you got them?

If you just popped them in, there are going to be squabbles while the pecking order reorganises itself and you are probably lucky that you have not witnessed any actual fighting which may be due to the RIR and Sexlinks not having been in the coop and run very long themselves.

When introducing chickens, it is best to keep them separated via a ‘look but not touch’ method for a couple of weeks so that they can get used to each other before introduction. I have seen some nasty injuries here on BYC from chickens just being popped in without a proper introduction.

Anyhow, as they are not actually fighting, no one is getting hurt and they have already been together for a couple of days, you are probably safe leaving them now and just keeping an eye on them while the pecking order sorts itself out. Definitely look at getting them some more room though.

Keeping in mind that recommended roost space for each LF is 2 foot, are you certain there is “plenty of room up there”? The browns may not be roosting because they are being picked on and the quarters are too close.

None of this is meant to be harsh or a criticism, hopefully just some helpful pointers for ensuring your girls are happy. Confined quarters can also lead to feather picking and boredom etc.

Topic of the Week - Adding New Chickens to the Flock.

Good luck and best wishes!

Edited to fix up some and's and are's in the wrong place and other bits that did not make sense

 

[AllenK RGV]

Welcome to BYC!

I cheat on the roost space math myself. I only allocated 1 sq foot per bird but I don't lock them in and they can choose the trees if so inclined.

Most evenings they settle in peacefully others they do a bit of fighting and feather pulling. I am certainly not saying what works for me will work for everyone but every night if I go out and check on them(usually when I hear predators close) they are roosting peacefully once darkness is complete.

I have provided my flock with 2 8 foot long roosts but apparently I only installed one competently according to my birds!

 

[Pork Pie]

This link regarding space requirements I find particularly informative - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

 

[Teila]

This link regarding space requirements I find particularly informative - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Thank You Ken! That IS an excellent article which I had not seen before and will definitely be referring to in future!

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Even tho your first 4 birds had only been there 2 days,
the new ones were considered 'invading strangers'.
Agrees that your space may be tight for 7 birds.
Knowing your location(climate) would be most helpful.

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

 

[RESQME49]

Thanks for the info! Yeah, it is tight right now. The guys are coming out tomorrow to extend it another 6 feet, so it will be 4x14 with a 6x4 coop. Once they all acclimate, I plan on free ranging them in our acre during the day, at least most days. I have two roosts in the coop that are 4-5 feet long. All the birds that roost ( the four ) all huddle at the front, but the browns seem to just lay together on the ground. This morning, when I let them out, one of the isa Browns laid an egg on the coop floor, not the nest box. Here is a link to the coop I got. Its not a prefab, but a guy local that builds them from scratch. He has a stellar reputation in this whole region and came as a recommendation. He said I could comfortably get 8 birds in this coop. Im thinking sometime in the future, I will widen the coop another foot or two, but not for quite a while.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/grd/d/the-ultimate-coop-6-feet-tall/6470762884.html

 

[MrsMistyReal]

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome glad you joined us new birds getting used to each other will take some time to
acquire a pecking order