Pecking order

[Clmirabilio92]

Hi there. I have 6 main chickens that have adopted my 2 bantam roosters that I raised into the flock, was a little rough at first but nothing like what they are doing now towards my other 14 chicks that range from ages 7 weeks to 9 weeks. I had them all out free ranging but the other girls were pulling feathers off and hurting them. Every opportunity that they got, they also started seeking them out from under places and from inside the coop and attacking them. I know that the pecking order is normal. But what is too excessive for the 7 week old chicks? I really dont want them hurting them, especially because I have a silky and silky mixes that are smaller than the rest. Please help! Right now I have the 14 little ones closed off in the lower part of my coop with their food, water and a fan.m for the heat. I would really love to atleast let the 9 week old ones out, they go crazy being locked up. What can I do to keep them safe from the others?? ☹

 

[Whigru]

How long have the bigger birds been with/around the little ones? I had this same issue with a 1yr hen and my littles when they were 6/7 weeks. My hen was just horrible to them, tufts of feathers everywhere because she’d pull them out as soon as she got near enough. And she also sought them out, too. They would run and scream away from her. It was awful. In my case, after 3 weeks of having separate parts of the run dedicated to each age group, and trying to let them free range but also giving the little ones places to hide or get away, we ended up rehoming my hen. I don’t think that’s the answer you’re looking for, just my experience. Having to listen to baby chicken screams for 3 weeks and constantly watching to make sure they weren’t being killed was more than I could handle. Now, I have two sets of two - two are 19 weeks and two are 10 weeks, and we did the same thing for integration with them, too. It went MUCH better and only took about 10 days and there was no feather pulling or major harassment.

 

[Clmirabilio92]

How long have the bigger birds been with/around the little ones? I had this same issue with a 1yr hen and my littles when they were 6/7 weeks. My hen was just horrible to them, tufts of feathers everywhere because she’d pull them out as soon as she got near enough. And she also sought them out, too. They would run and scream away from her. It was awful. In my case, after 3 weeks of having separate parts of the run dedicated to each age group, and trying to let them free range but also giving the little ones places to hide or get away, we ended up rehoming my hen. I don’t think that’s the answer you’re looking for, just my experience. Having to listen to baby chicken screams for 3 weeks and constantly watching to make sure they weren’t being killed was more than I could handle. Now, I have two sets of two - two are 19 weeks and two are 10 weeks, and we did the same thing for integration with them, too. It went MUCH better and only took about 10 days and there was no feather pulling or major harassment.

They've been around them for a little over a month now. I would use the rehoming hen option, if it was just one hen doing it. but it's pretty much all of the big girls going after them. They are my laying girls. I'm so scared , but on the other hand I feel like I'm not letting them be happy by setting them free to explore. You're right, the screaming chicks is so horrible to hear. i can keep the 7 week olds cooped up a little longer but the bigger ones just wont be having it. I try and just keep an eye on them but I cant be looking everywhere at once. I havent seen blood shed yet, but I also dont want to get to that point where I'm having to clean wounds and they are being really badly hurt.

 

[Whigru]

They've been around them for a little over a month now. I would use the rehoming hen option, if it was just one hen doing it. but it's pretty much all of the big girls going after them. They are my laying girls. I'm so scared , but on the other hand I feel like I'm not letting them be happy by setting them free to explore. You're right, the screaming chicks is so horrible to hear. i can keep the 7 week olds cooped up a little longer but the bigger ones just wont be having it. I try and just keep an eye on them but I cant be looking everywhere at once. I havent seen blood shed yet, but I also dont want to get to that point where I'm having to clean wounds and they are being really badly hurt.

Yeah, that is so tough! I’m sorry that I don’t have more advice, clearly you’ve been waiting for quite a while for some nicer behavior! Hopefully others with more experience can offer some insight. In the area where they free range, is if possible to fence off a section for the small ones to run to and get protection but still be able to see the other birds? We bought some movable fence panels from Menards and basically blocked off one corner of the yard but kept a small gap so the little ones could run in when needed. Or maybe you’ve already done that?

 

[Clmirabilio92]

Yeah, that is so tough! I’m sorry that I don’t have more advice, clearly you’ve been waiting for quite a while for some nicer behavior! Hopefully others with more experience can offer some insight. In the area where they free range, is if possible to fence off a section for the small ones to run to and get protection but still be able to see the other birds? We bought some movable fence panels from Menards and basically blocked off one corner of the yard but kept a small gap so the little ones could run in when needed. Or maybe you’ve already done that?

You have been helpful! I appreciate it. I will try and see what I can build to help them. I will do anything to help my babies!