Pecking order

[HenniePearl]

Hello, I am kinda new to everything chickens. We have 7 buff Orpington's and 6 Wyandotte's that are a little over 4 months old and we just got 6 Rhode Island Reds that are probably around 2 months old. I have had them in a separate pin for about a week so the big girls can see and smell then but every time I try to put them together by big girls get mean. They are usually very friendly birds. And tips or info would be greatly appreciated. Right now I am having to put the littles in my garage every night.

 

[TexasSam]

How much space are they in when you put them together

 

[TexasSam]

Secondly keep them separate for one more week and then put them in the coop at night when there sleeping just make sure you are there first thing before everyone gets active seems to work well for me

Check this out

 

[HenniePearl]

How much space are they in when you put them together

We have a 10x10 hen house and I think it's 35x15 feet pen.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I've heard that Wyandottes tend to be aggressive, but so do RIRs. I'd wait a bit before adding the RIRs.
One thing that works for me is distracting everyone as soon as the newbies are added - treats! Keep in mind there's no way to eliminate all pecking; that's the way of the pecking order. Good luck!

 

[HenniePearl]

Secondly keep them separate for one more week and then put them in the coop at night when there sleeping just make sure you are there first thing before everyone gets active seems to work well for me

Check this out

I will have to give this a try. I have made so much extra work for myself by getting these RIR's!

 

[HenniePearl]

I've heard that Wyandottes tend to be aggressive, but so do RIRs. I'd wait a bit before adding the RIRs.
One thing that works for me is distracting everyone as soon as the newbies are added - treats! Keep in mind there's no way to eliminate all pecking; that's the way of the pecking order. Good luck!

I am such a softie. It's hard to watch them get pecked. I may just have to let them get a little bigger.... at least till I feel they have a better chance of holding their own. Thanks for the info!!

 

[HenniePearl]

I will have to give this a try. I have made so much extra work for myself by getting these RIR's!

Thanks for the info! Like I said I am new and learning a lot daily!

 

[Pork Pie]

Here's some links that may be interesting:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126547/topic-of-the-week-integrating-chicks-into-an-adult-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1069595/introducing-chicks-to-adults#post_16276224

 

[TexasSam]

I am such a softie. It's hard to watch them get pecked. I may just have to let them get a little bigger.... at least till I feel they have a better chance of holding their own. Thanks for the info!!

They will get pecked regardless of what you do especially when they are smaller but it won't last more than A day or two just make sure they have space to escape if needed and they should be fine