New young rooster added to established flock - bullying?

[tmeitner]

UPDATE: The Pinless Peepers are... kinda working. Ruth is figuring out how to work around them and stay on the attack. But Jerry can get away quickly and Ruth gives up right away. That's good.

But it's not deterring her or changing her behavior. I actually went out after dinner to check on them and Jerry had squeezed through a gap in the run fence and was outside the run trying to figure out how to get back in! But Ruth was still side-eyeing him and following him to keep him out.

Plus, I assumed there was no way the two would be in the coop together tonight.

So we got everybody in the coop except Ruth, and we managed to get Ruth in the crate in the middle of the run. My plan is to leave her in there for a week and see if that humbles her. We'll just leave the peepers on anyway.

Does Ruth need to be in the crate AWAY from the run entirely? Or can she be in there but around everybody without having access?

 

[aart]

Does Ruth need to be in the crate AWAY from the run entirely? Or can she be in there but around everybody without having access?

Better to leave her within sight.

 

[tmeitner]

Better to leave her within sight.

Gotcha. I'll keep her in the run then and see how things go for the next week. Thanks!

 

[PimsGarden]

The "roosting at night" trick -- I've read how it works, I've also heard from seriously experienced chicken keepers (and by experienced, I am talking in the length of decades) all say that it does not work, that chickens KNOW there is a new chicken there and violence ensues.

Everyone that I have read where they have the least issues is patience patience patience with integration and allowing *see but not touch* access FOR WEEKS.

Agreed, and if you separate it seems to work best to separate the victim. I've read a lot of people say it helps give the victim more confidence next go around. This is keeping in mind you do the look but don't touch method mentioned before.