Pecking Order Problems

[ILoveDaffy]

I recently got a new pullet, (buff orpington of course! I love them!) and she is having pecking order trouble, and happens to be shy around anyone but me. She refuses to peck back, poor thing, and is pecked on all day. They are getting to big for their britches! Especially considering they don´t have any! Panda and Dandy are being so mean!
Clover needs your help!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I wish her well. The hens will get it all resolved though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It is always difficult to add a single hen into a group.

Make sure to have EXTRA space, feeders, water dishes, stuff in the run for the new bird to hide behind and put a feed and water dish there.

Did you do the see but don't touch or did she come home and get put in immediately?

 

[piminuse]

I love me buff Orp, Poppy, and she doesn't take sass from anyone! Our own Clover (a barnevelder), however is bottom of the order and seems like you girl might be on the bottom of the totem pole as well.

Part of it can be how they were introduced--it's kind of like highschool where the new kid has to navigate the cafeteria and everyone has their established cliques. It will take time for her to adapt and grow comfortable with her new surroundings and flock mates. If it starts getting violent then you may want to segregate her from the rest of the flock, but still somewhere they can see each other. This can take a few weeks before you move onto supervised free-ranging or interaction before she can be fully integrated. Even then she just might be the bottom bird and get picked on if that's your flock's dynamic.

 

[BY Bob]

How many do you have? The the newcomer will get pecked at pretty hard at first to make certain that she knows her place, last. The pecking order tends to be seniority based. I posted an article on why are my chickens mean to each other. It will tell you how my 6 interact with each other and how their pecking order works.

Everytime I add the new ones they come in at the bottom of the pecking order. That's how hens organize themselves. I try to add in pairs because mine socialize in that fashion. They pair off with their buddy.

No one joins an established flock and starts at the top, they all start at the bottom.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

We did the see but dont touch method for 1 hour, and then integrated. She has been extremely scared. They had been a pair for 3 months, since Daffy passed and got into a rhythm as a pair. She had been alone with a rabbit for a few months as well.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We did the see but dont touch method for 1 hour, and then integrated. She has been extremely scared. They had been a pair for 3 months, since Daffy passed and got into a rhythm as a pair. She had been alone with a rabbit for a few months as well.

See no touch should be at minimum a week. She is basically tossed in with established girls so is getting ganged up on. Do you have a way to pen her next to them for an extended period?

 

[rosemarythyme]

1 hour is very short. 1-2 weeks is where you should start... plus you should have multiple feeders and plenty of clutter to provide hiding spots set up as well.

Your existing birds aren't being "mean" they're rightfully protecting their territory from a stranger.

 

[aart]

How old are these birds, in weeks or months?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might these tips about....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Thank you all so so much! You suggestions, mixed with our ideas have helped immensely!