New pullets being bullied, will it work itself out?

[thisoldcoop]

I've kept a small flock of chickens over the years, but haven't really had the kind of bullying that I've experienced with the last couple groups before. I have three red sexlink hens that are probably about a year an a half. They've been together since I got them at nine months. I recently got rid of the two overly attentive roosters so these hens are pretty content. I just got four more pullets from Pullets Plus by Elmira, Ontario. They are not yet laying, so unsure of their exact age. They won't come out of the coop into the run because the three hens run at them and pull at their feathers. Initially, I had the four pullets in a large wire cage which I put into the run with the other hens and into the coop in the evening. They could see each other but were separated by the cage and weren't particularly bothered. I did that for two full days and didn't take them out of the cage until the third day. Obviously that wasn't long enough. The pullets are actually a bit bigger than the older three hens, but don't realize it.
Will this just eventually work itself out, as the pullets reach laying maturity? I thought because they are similar size there wouldn't be such bullying. They do all roost in close proximity at night, however. (Everyone has access to food and water in different locations).

 

[Pretty Birds]

Bullying will happen, it is part of the pecking order. Just make sure they are not full on attacking them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I integrate chicks at 4-8 weeks. They are seen as a non threatening normal addition to a flock. Anything older than 12 weeks starts to be seen as an intruder into the territory. Established members either fight to defend the territory or abandon it, when new adults or adolescence are added.

Size of your set will dictate how easy integration goes. All birds need a certain amount of space to not feel crowded and aggressive. When a flock get too big for the territory members will try to drive some out, so that's usually why people see aggression in smaller set ups.

Integration takes a long time generally. Even with chicks it can take 2 months before mine are considered part of the flock. They still get pecked and chased on occasion, but they aren't bullied.

You need to slow down and expect it to take a while. Rushing it can result in dead or scalped birds. Pen birds next to the older birds for at least 1-3 weeks before doing supervised mingling. Expect to continue to separate them out for a few more weeks at night until you see they mostly tolerate each other.

 

[chkva]

I introduced my chicks when they were 4 weeks and there were no issues, but I have tried to add an older chicken and my hens weren't having it at all.

I think the see but don't touch method works very well with introducing new chickens to a flock.

 

[thisoldcoop]

I'm not sure what I would define as the difference between bullying and attacking. They do go after the younger ones if they see them, but then the younger ones just jump up onto a low roosting perch and everyone is o.k. again. There is plenty of space out in the run, which is where the older ones like to be during the day. The coop in which the younger ones spend their time is large as well, so space isn't an issue. I was just hoping that the pullets could also be outside, scratching around, rather than hiding out in the coop. Thank you for the input. I'm getting six more pullets in a few weeks. I guess I'll have to rethink that introduction.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's normal for older birds to peck a younger one to move it off. If birds are chasing the young ones down and attempting to corner them than that's abnormal and aggression. A few pecks are normal.

 

[aart]

There is plenty of space out in the run, which is where the older ones like to be during the day. The coop in which the younger ones spend their time is large as well, so space isn't an issue.

How large is 'plenty' and 'large' in feet by feet?
Do you have multiple feeders and waterers...and places to 'hide' in both run and coop?
Dimensions, and pics, would help for more specific suggestions.

Some of these tips may help.....
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.

 

[thisoldcoop]

Their run is about 50 x 30 feet with a variety of what we call "playground equipment" - an old wooden bench with the seat gone that they can perch on, stumps with more wood suspended between them, and some pieces of sheets of wood that are upright that birds could be on either side of without getting cornered. Currently none of that matters, as the four young pullets don't come out of the coop. The three "older" hens chase them back in if they do. However, one pullet has started to lay and manages to do that quite nicely in a nesting box. I'm not going to force anything for now. Hopefully the older ones will get tired of being nasty.

 

[thisoldcoop]

As a follow up, I've had the new pullets for about three weeks now and they are mixing with the older three, coming out of the coop, into the outdoor run. There is still the occasional feather pulling and reminders that they are low on the pecking order, but generally it isn't too bad. One has started laying eggs. The others still have fairly light, small combs, and nothing from them yet.

 

[bunsmac]

I've kept a small flock of chickens over the years, but haven't really had the kind of bullying that I've experienced with the last couple groups before. I have three red sexlink hens that are probably about a year an a half. They've been together since I got them at nine months. I recently got rid of the two overly attentive roosters so these hens are pretty content. I just got four more pullets from Pullets Plus by Elmira, Ontario. They are not yet laying, so unsure of their exact age. They won't come out of the coop into the run because the three hens run at them and pull at their feathers. Initially, I had the four pullets in a large wire cage which I put into the run with the other hens and into the coop in the evening. They could see each other but were separated by the cage and weren't particularly bothered. I did that for two full days and didn't take them out of the cage until the third day. Obviously that wasn't long enough. The pullets are actually a bit bigger than the older three hens, but don't realize it.
Will this just eventually work itself out, as the pullets reach laying maturity? I thought because they are similar size there wouldn't be such bullying. They do all roost in close proximity at night, however. (Everyone has access to food and water in different locations).