New flock members being bullied by everyone.

[JessePeepman]

I am trying to integrate a flock of 4 (~10 weeks) into a flock of 15 (~13 weeks). The problem is, the existing flock are red and black stars while my new flock are 2 red stars, a RIR, and what I believe to be a light Sussex.
My Sussex cannot catch a break. Every time I try to let everyone out, the existing flock pecks her. Sometimes one or 2 at a time, but once she starts running, they swarm her. She now has tiny wounds on her face because of this. I don't want to wake up one day and find her dead.
Is there anything I can do to ease the process or do I keep trying? They have been in a pen inside the coop for over 3 weeks now. I have tried letting them roost with the others at night but it doesn't work because she's the most different. What else can I do?
There is no one bully in particular, so I can't jail anyone. Should I re-home her?

 

[Debbie292d]

"...she's the most different."

I'm finding out this with my cuckoo silkies. One rogue rooster no longer around killed a cuckoo hen. I didn't know who killed her, but witnessed him going after the 2nd one a few days later. He was homicidal, pecking her head to kill her. He is no longer on this earth.

Now, two cuckoo roosters have grown up and are being picked on by even the older hens. These are larger than the hens. I'm baffled. I put the two young roosters into my breeding pen that already has a rooster and 3 hens in it. That rooster is nice about it, but 2 of the 3 hens are picking on them. Even though they aren't quite 5 months old, they are larger than the older hens.

The only advice I have for us is we have to keep them separated ...because they are different. I don't know how to get them to get over whatever their issue is with how they look. Maybe your rehoming idea is the only way.

 

[JessePeepman]

"...she's the most different."

I'm finding out this with my cuckoo silkies. One rogue rooster no longer around killed a cuckoo hen. I didn't know who killed her, but witnessed him going after the 2nd one a few days later. He was homicidal, pecking her head to kill her. He is no longer on this earth.

Now, two cuckoo roosters have grown up and are being picked on by even the older hens. These are larger than the hens. I'm baffled. I put the two young roosters into my breeding pen that already has a rooster and 3 hens in it. That rooster is nice about it, but 2 of the 3 hens are picking on them. Even though they aren't quite 5 months old, they are larger than the older hens.

The only advice I have for us is we have to keep them separated ...because they are different. I don't know how to get them to get over whatever their issue is with how they look. Maybe your rehoming idea is the only way.

Sorry to hear about your loss. I suppose I will have to keep her separated for the time being til I can find a place for her. Just sucks because she is attached to me and the others she grew up with. I'd rather find her someone where she can be safe instead of being terrorized by the others :/

 

[Debbie292d]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I suppose I will have to keep her separated for the time being til I can find a place for her. Just sucks because she is attached to me and the others she grew up with. I'd rather find her someone where she can be safe instead of being terrorized by the others :/

I just thought of an idea.

Is there a place you have where you could put her and one more hen together and just see if that hen will leave her alone? If that works, you could wait a week or so, then try adding another one. If that works, then she'd start having friends that won't pick on her.

 

[JessePeepman]

That sounds doable. I'll definitely try that out. Thank you.

I just thought of an idea.

Is there a place you have where you could put her and one more hen together and just see if that hen will leave her alone? If that works, you could wait a week or so, then try adding another one. If that works, then she'd start having friends that won't pick on her.

 

[Big Mama Chicken]

I am trying to integrate a flock of 4 (~10 weeks) into a flock of 15 (~13 weeks). The problem is, the existing flock are red and black stars while my new flock are 2 red stars, a RIR, and what I believe to be a light Sussex.
My Sussex cannot catch a break. Every time I try to let everyone out, the existing flock pecks her. Sometimes one or 2 at a time, but once she starts running, they swarm her. She now has tiny wounds on her face because of this. I don't want to wake up one day and find her dead.
Is there anything I can do to ease the process or do I keep trying? They have been in a pen inside the coop for over 3 weeks now. I have tried letting them roost with the others at night but it doesn't work because she's the most different. What else can I do?
There is no one bully in particular, so I can't jail anyone. Should I re-home her?

I feel your pain. I have 6 Golden Comets that were hatched in March of 23 and 2 Black Sex Links that were hatched in March of this year. Though the BSLs are now bigger than the comets, they are picked on almost every time they are mixed. It is time for the BSLs to start laying but I'm afraid that they are traumatized from the pecking and chasing. I almost got 2 more comets instead of the BSLs but those little black chicks were so cute and I was willing to try something different. I can't tell you how many times they have flown on my back, my shoulder or my arms/hands to flee their attackers. I have scars on my arms and hands from the deep scratches of their claws to hold on. It simply hurts my heart to think about having to give them away to give them a better life and I would never be able to have them appear on my table. They are my children (or grandchildren) since I only see my grandchildren a couple of times a year now!