New Chicken

[Sandra Verbreyt]

I had 1 chicken and today I bought her a friend but she is bullying it and pecking at it. They have a free run of my garden and a large chicken house just for the two of them Babs and Margo.
Any advice on how to get babs to accept Margo. Both are the same breed and same size. Zijdehoeven. They look like the footballer Filaney with mad hair.

 

[chickens really]

Look no touch pen till they get used to each other...Free range time is great....

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @Sandra Verbreyt!
Babs is defending her territory and resources(food/water/space).
Perfectly normal.

a large chicken house

How large is 'large' in feet by feet(meters by meters?)?



Integration Basics and Tips:
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This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO: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

 

[Mrs. K]

Is she is not making the new bird bloody, or trapping her, add another feed station, and let them be. They will work it out. Each time you interrupt it, it will start over.

If she is making the other bird bloody, well separate them with chicken wire, so they get a bit more used to each other, without pecking,