Pecking order crazies

[bean oller]

Ok so I’ve done everything right? Separated the new 12week old birds about 3 weeks in a coop so the other birds can see them. Let them free range together but still had new girls go to their “own house” no sleep overs yet. Finally put everyone together last night helping the new girls into the roost at dark. Today lots of pecking and the older girls won’t let the new girls into the coop to roost for evening. Can’t single out a bully ( maybe...) but I just need to know what’s normal and how involved I should /shouldn’t get.
Thank you for any help

 

[Acre4Me]

how many birds total (older and younger)?

How much roost space?

Pecking order stuff is pretty normal, so have at least 2 water and 2 food stations so everyone can eat and drink.

put some visual variations in the run (board or pallet propped against fence or wall, large potted plant that is hardy and not poisonous, a roost "tree" etc) - making sure there are no dead ends.

My 14 week chicken teenagers are still being put in their place by the older girls even though they have been in with them for many weeks. Its all about resources (food and water) and dominance (pecking order). So, they get pecked when they try to eat before an older girl or reprimanded when they grab a treat instead of a higher dominance female, etc.

Good luck.

 

[aart]

how many birds total (older and younger)?
How much roost space?

Yes, these^^^

...and how big is coop, and run if you have one, in feet by feet?

Some of these you've already done, but others might 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.

 

[SueT]

Often evening roost time is the hardest. Just because you think they should all fit on the roost(s) doesn't mean they will. Adding new roosts and improvising some roost dividers will help. Dividers will help prevent bullies from hogging more than their share of space.

 

[aart]

Often evening roost time is the hardest. Just because you think they should all fit on the roost(s) doesn't mean they will. Adding new roosts and improvising some roost dividers will help. Dividers will help prevent bullies from hogging more than their share of space.
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Great examples, saving link to this post to share down the road.

 

[bean oller]

how many birds total (older and younger)?

How much roost space?

Pecking order stuff is pretty normal, so have at least 2 water and 2 food stations so everyone can eat and drink.

put some visual variations in the run (board or pallet propped against fence or wall, large potted plant that is hardy and not poisonous, a roost "tree" etc) - making sure there are no dead ends.

My 14 week chicken teenagers are still being put in their place by the older girls even though they have been in with them for many weeks. Its all about resources (food and water) and dominance (pecking order). So, they get pecked when they try to eat before an older girl or reprimanded when they grab a treat instead of a higher dominance female, etc.

Good luck.

Thank you, all great suggestions. 4 new birds 4 older birds. Plenty of space. I did add another water and food station

 

[bean oller]

Thank you all for the great suggestions, 4 older birds 4 new birds. plenty of roosting room. I did add another food/water area and yesterday seemed to go much better. Funny but the easter egger i have seems to be the bully to the new birds only. And now she is moulting. The new girls are very vocal and flighty but no one is being pinned down, there is no back riding and there was squawking for a time inside roost but everyone was inside last night. Had no idea moulting was starting so the feather "pillow fight" is okay, not anyone being plucked bald. Thanks again!!!

 

[aart]

Had no idea moulting was starting so the feather "pillow fight" is okay, not anyone being plucked bald.

Check for pin feathers to confirm molting.