new chicks added....older flock bullying just 1 help/advise please!!!

[Mk_lanch]

so my chicks are around 3 months old now and of a similar size to my flock. (i have 2 polands and 3 silkies)
i have had them in a cage next to my old flocks cage for around 5-6 weeks.
i put them in together and the pecking wasnt too bad. but for some reason out of all the chickens they have taken a dislike to my cream poland chick....they contantly chase her and all 3 of my original chickens peck and attack her.
even when shes in a group with all her sisters my older chickens just go after her.
any reason why this is?
any ideas on how to resolve it?
thank you

 

[BYCforlife]

There's always a chicken at the bottom of the pecking order. Even in my flock of 40, I have one hen who is bullied by almost all of them.

I think the best method is to move your older hens into a cage and let them watch your young chicks in the regular run. Then, one by one, nicest to meanest, put your older chickens back in with the chicks. Leave some time between each one just so you can see how they're getting along.

I haven't experimented with this, but even the most dominant hen can move to the bottom of the pecking order. If you are desperate, you could gently tie up the meanest hen by her leg. She will struggle to escape, and eventually give up. At that point she is the weakest in the flock, and she moves down the totem pole. Then untie her and make sure she doesn't try to get her position back.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens are not racists but they do dislike certain differences in their fellow chickens and it seems to me that one of the chief differences that they dislike is the crest on the head of Polish chickens. I suspect that this breed is named for the Polish Calvary men of old who wore wings on their backs or helmets to help them intimidate their enemies. Unfortunately when a crest is worn on the head of Polish Chickens it seems to call down the ire of their flock mates, not intimidate them.

 

[Mk_lanch]

the main bully is a sizzle poland (orange colour)
the one being picked on is a cream creole poland.
im thinking perhaps i have sexed wrong and maybe my cream poland is a boy?
im going to post some pictures and see what poeple think

 

[PouleChick]

How much space do they have? How many days is it that you have had them in together? Have you got things in their run that the picked on one can hide behind / get away from the bullies? Unless there is blood drawn I'd leave them to it - they'll sort themselves out.

 

[Mk_lanch]

They are in a good sized chicken coop with run. But they also free range
The thing is once one goes for her all 3 of my older chickens jump on her and pull her down. There was also blood in her beak yesterday. It's not been as bad today as I've put the biggest bully in a cage to seperate her.
But as I said she might be a boy
I had to take away my appenzeller roo as they were badly beating him up and wouldn't stop.
I have posted on another thread with pictures to try and figure out the sex of my chickens. Any opinion will be greatly appreciated

 

[BYCforlife]

It's a follower thing. The same thing happens to my chickens sometimes. Maybe try "pecking" all of the hens who attack your poor chick with your fingers. I'm not sure, but maybe if you show them you're in charge, they could stop.

 

[aart]

They are in a good sized chicken coop with run.

How big, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

How many birds total...5 existing and how many new?

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.