New Flock Members

Date sort Score sort
A

aking19

Songster
Jul 31, 2022
72
224
103
Tennessee
I have a crazy situation, long story short I eneded up with one cockerel and one pullet from my original flock. I have since got 4 new pullets around the same age, quarantined them for 30 days, I did the see no touch playpen method to acclimate the newcomers to the 2 I had. The other day I introduced the newcomers to the 2 in the run and coop. My pullet and cockerel are ganging up on the 4 new ones. My pullet especially is being a bit of a jerk not letting them eat, roost, dust bath, etc. When she isnt picking on all 4 of them she is totally ignoring them and hanging with the roo. Should I leave them be to work it out themselves? I read not to intervene unless there are injuries. Any idea how long til things settle down?
 
Idaho Chicken Bungalow said:
Welcome! Is there a way of doing supervised play dates each day? Also, I always made sure the older chooks were fed well then let the littles out.
Click to expand...
I usually keep an eye on them throughout the day. Also in the evenings let them loose in the yard to graze til they go up to roost. They are all around the same age and pullets are not laying just yet. Around 16-17 weeks old.
 
janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC.
Is the rooster breeding with them?
If they are around the same size, and the new pullets are not of a very docile breed, I'd not worry too much.
Click to expand...
Roo isn’t mature yet, I think he has been trying to mount the one pullet he’s been with but he kind of ignores the new girls. My one pullet does most of being the jerk. But she isnt hurting them, just pushing them around. I guess I just feel sorry for the new ones. They stick together.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
How much room do you have in your coop and run for your cockerel and pullets? What else is in the run? Do you have more than one feeder/waterer set up far apart?
As long as there is not blood drawn, I would let them work things out but I would add things to the run to get out of the line of sight and to fly up on and perch as well as multiple feeders/waterers.
 
aking19 said:
I have a crazy situation, long story short I eneded up with one cockerel and one pullet from my original flock. I have since got 4 new pullets around the same age, quarantined them for 30 days, I did the see no touch playpen method to acclimate the newcomers to the 2 I had. The other day I introduced the newcomers to the 2 in the run and coop. My pullet and cockerel are ganging up on the 4 new ones. My pullet especially is being a bit of a jerk not letting them eat, roost, dust bath, etc. When she isnt picking on all 4 of them she is totally ignoring them and hanging with the roo. Should I leave them be to work it out themselves? I read not to intervene unless there are injuries. Any idea how long til things settle down?
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!! They should get used to each other eventually, although the older pullet will almost always keep herself away from the younger ones.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom