Pecking at younger chicks feathered legs

[Coop de Grille]

I have two pens that I am trying to integrate. The left side has my 6 BO hens that are 18 weeks old, and 22 Production Reds, BSL and Red Star pullets that are 10 weeks old. They have been integrated for about a month and have no problems. My right side pen has 13 six week olds which are EE and assorted Marans. The Marans have feathered legs.

I tried to start integrating them yesterday and all seemed well. I saw a little pecking by the older girls but nothing serious. When I went out later in the day I noticed my one little BCM dude had blood on his foot and one of my BO girls was pecking at him. I looked closer and his feathers have been pecked off and the whole side of his toe was bloddy. I was surprised because he is the only one that would stand up to the bigger girls when I first put them together. He would charge at a group of them and stand tall, they would scatter.

I put the door back up to separate them again but now I'm wondering if I should keep them integrated or should I move the little dude out of the coop til he is healed. I noticed the hens pecking at the others with feathered feet, but no one else was bleeding.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Yes, I'd think he needs to heal first. It can only get worse with fresh bloody wounds.

 

[sumi]

Put some antibiotic ointment on his leg and keep him separate until he's healed. It shouldn't take long. Chickens go for blood, they will carry on pecking him if you leave him with them.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Yes clean off his foot and get some of that Blue Kote or something so it's not red and attracts them. I didn't separate after a foot pecking incident, actually - I just cleaned my girl up, made sure there were plenty of places to hide and distractions, and put her back in there. No further problems so far.

I use forage cakes and free ranging time to help with integration - the new chicks don't really join in, but it gives them a break and tires out the pre-existing chicks.