Pecking Issue

[MadisonOde]

I have 4 1 year old hens, and we introduced a silkie who’s not much smaller then they are and a Maran. They were doing fine until today when I found an open wound where my silkies earlobe is, and she isn’t even at the bottom of the pecking order. I was thinking of starting a new, better quality flock, should I sell my other hens and do that? They’re separated for now.

 

[danceswithronin]

How did you introduce them? Ideally they should be put in a run together for several weeks but separated by fencing or netting so they can see each other at eye level but not touch. That way they establish pecking order without violence.

 

[MadisonOde]

Yes, that’s what we did we separated the run and then put them in a kennel in the coop at night

 

[danceswithronin]

If you're interested in swapping breeds anyway, I'd probably just sell out the laying hens and pick up some day-old chicks to build a new flock like you want.