Newbie:/ Any help/ suggestions appreciated.

[Bebea]

This is my first go at raising chickens. Approx 6mo ago I got 4 chicks. I had one roster in the mix I re-homed about 2mo ago once he strarted... well being a rooster! But have 3 hens almost grown. I believe there breeds are a (Plymouth barrel Rock), one (leghorn) , one (Whittington). I could be wrong on this and will post pics. When they were about 8 weeks old I put them out into there coop and everything was going so well and I had a hunch 1 or more were a rooster which I didn't plan to keep if so I let my son talk me into getting 2 more chicks which were (Silkys). This was his 1st choice of breed but we weren't able to get them for several months. The timing worked perfect with the older birds going outside. Well... less then 6 weeks later one of the two young silky chicks was deffently a roster! He started crowing almost 2mo younger than the other roooster and was really mean to the other silky and it broke my heart but mostly was preventing us from bonding with either silky chick. He was very aggressive to her and us. He had the other chick scared to death at all times so I re-homed him at 7weeks leaving just one young silky. Whom is now 12 weeks.
I'm pretty sure this is where I went wrong. I didn't relize how hard it would be to introduce this single and smaller breed bird to my other so I thought sweet 3 hens I'm sure whomever is reading this is shaking there heads but we love pepper the silky so much and bc she has basically been raised alone she is very attached to us and I worry she doesn't even want to be in a chicken flock but rather on her perch in the AC with safety and with us. I've tried putting her in the coop in her own crate. I've slipped her in while they slept which was fine all night until they woke up and realized she was there. I put her out in the yard everyday with them but I'm afraid to leave her. 2 of the 3 large birds just go after her and basically tag her back and forth pecking her. She just runs non stop can't get her to drink or eat anything while outside by she's so freaked out. What now!!?? This bird has to go outside and I really want to have 4 happy hens but have I messed up so bad this will never work? Maybe I'm the problem!
Any advice really appreciated!!! One last thing!!! I haven't got a single egg either from older hens!

I'm posting there coop, there yard size and current pics of them .

 

[Abriana]

Welcome to BYC!
It is pretty difficult to introduce only one hen into a flock. Maybe buy two more of her same age and put all three in a run together in the chicken pen, or near where the chickens like to hang out. That way, they see her but cannot peck her or hurt her. Eventually, they will grow accustomed to seeing her and her friends (if you decide to purchase more hens) around and will only peck to establish pecking order when she comes out, not to hurt. If they draw blood or still attack, put her and her friends back in the run for a few more days and try again. She and her friends will be on the bottom of the pecking order for a while, just make sure they are getting enough to eat, drink, and that they have shade and that the bossy hens aren't hogging it all. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Bebea]

Thank you for your response. I understand what you said but I truly wanted 4 birds from the start and ended up with 4 of 6. It's hard to imagine adding more is a good solution for me and what I feel I can deal and care for. But you may be right and that may be my only choice. I worry she's so docile the new birds will pick on her too!

 

[sannabelle]

Is one of your three original hens smaller and less aggressive or non-aggressive with the silkie? You could use the same tactics as above but just separate your existing birds into groups. Keep the silkie and whatever chicken you choose together, separated but within view of your other two established hens.

Not ideal, but worth a shot!

 

[Abriana]

Thank you for your response. I understand what you said but I truly wanted 4 birds from the start and ended up with 4 of 6. It's hard to imagine adding more is a good solution for me and what I feel I can deal and care for. But you may be right and that may be my only choice. I worry she's so docile the new birds will pick on her too!

Newer birds will always be at the bottom of the pecking order, no matter what. If you decide to get new birds, they won't pick on her, but even docile birds do establish pecking order so she may peck them for a bit.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I wanted to address your breeds.... You have a barred rock, yes... Not sure what the brown one is (mostly because I don't have one) but the buff with the black around the neck and the feathered feet? That's a brahma...

 

[Abriana]

The brown one looks a little like a Welsummer, but I don't think that's what it is.