New bantams

[Gracey1983]

Hi. I am trying to introduce a new bantam to my other 2 bantams, one of my bantams is pecking the new one and chasing her, as I am new to this I am really worried if I close their sleeping area at night, the new one won’t be able to escape if the other starts pecking her, would she be ok, or should I leave the door to their nesting area open at night? What about foxes? Please if anyone could advise I’d be great full

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Firstly integrating chickens isn’t pretty. Now most people say that you should put the new bird(s) in a look no touch cage so that they can interact with the flock without risk of injury. You would do the look no touch method for about a week if the birds are close in age or size. Now with that said there is one more option...just put the birds together and let them fight it out. I know it sounds harsh but I’ve done it 4 times in the last 3-4 months and all the birds have integrated in 1-2 weeks.

 

[Gracey1983]

Firstly integrating chickens isn’t pretty. Now most people say that you should put the new bird(s) in a look no touch cage so that they can interact with the flock without risk of injury. You would do the look no touch method for about a week if the birds are close in age or size. Now with that said there is one more option...just put the birds together and let them fight it out. I know it sounds harsh but I’ve done it 4 times in the last 3-4 months and all the birds have integrated in 1-2 weeks.

Firstly integrating chickens isn’t pretty. Now most people say that you should put the new bird(s) in a look no touch cage so that they can interact with the flock without risk of injury. You would do the look no touch method for about a week if the birds are close in age or size. Now with that said there is one more option...just put the birds together and let them fight it out. I know it sounds harsh but I’ve done it 4 times in the last 3-4 months and all the birds have integrated in 1-2 weeks.

Thank you for the reply, mine are all in together, while she is being chased and occasionally pecked, it doesn’t seem to bad at the moment, she seems to be giving it back to the other bantam, but what would you advise to do at night, should I close the door to their nest box, and get up early to open it. I don’t want her to get attacked and not be able to get away

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Thank you for the reply, mine are all in together, while she is being chased and occasionally pecked, it doesn’t seem to bad at the moment, she seems to be giving it back to the other bantam, but what would you advise to do at night, should I close the door to their nest box, and get up early to open it. I don’t want her to get attacked and not be able to get away

Put her on the roost at night with the others once it starts getting dark. You don’t want her to get into the habit of sleeping and pooping in the nest box.

 

[CannedMonster]

The one pecking her is probably lower in the pecking order.
It’s afraid of losing its spot.
If the new bird is more dominant it may end up being 2nd or even 1st eventually. Or not.
I find with my birds that when they’re going in to roost is the worst time.
Once it gets pretty dark they all settle down.
Just be sure you have plenty of roost space and let them work it out.
It sounds like the new bird isn’t extremely docile and can defend herself.
If you’re worried about morning just let them out as early as you can.

 

[Gracey1983]

The one pecking her is probably lower in the pecking order.
It’s afraid of losing its spot.
If the new bird is more dominant it may end up being 2nd or even 1st eventually. Or not.
I find with my birds that when they’re going in to roost is the worst time.
Once it gets pretty dark they all settle down.
Just be sure you have plenty of roost space and let them work it out.
It sounds like the new bird isn’t extremely docile and can defend herself.
If you’re worried about morning just let them out as early as you can.

Thank you both for all this info, I have just closed the door, the other 2 are both on their bar, I am just worried if she wanted to attack the new bird, she’d have no where to run and therefore get injured, but I have set my alarm for 5.30 so I can open their door as early as possible

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

When chickens are in the coop, they will not fight.... maybe a peck here and there, but for them coop time is rest time so they don't tend to bother others as much.