PECKING

[Iko127]

Wow this is an old thread!!!

Adding one chicken to an existing flock is fraught with risk...it's the hardest integration to attempt. If the rooster had been full grown and mature it might have worked.



Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.
See if any of them, or the links provided, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:


Integration of new chickens to flock.

Consider medical quarantine.

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. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

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 blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, 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 to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from bully birds.


Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Thank you so much!! I have my 2 bad girls seperated rt now from the group and will keep them out for a day or two. So far the 2 new hens seem fine the stand up for themselves and so evn though they are still not completely comfortable they are doing fine, eating and drinking. My poor roo is doing so so. I spent some time today and actually carried him out into the run and let him peck around. I had to stand and be the boss and protected him from the other hens that thought they were going to come pick on him. Kinda funny, they girls just couldn't believe I was the boss. The roo even decided to show his stuff and pretend he was boss to one of my young girls in the pen next to him...lol Then I left and back in the coop he went. I think as long as he is eating and drinking, I believe he will adjust but will just have to see, maybe he won't work out but need to try. I will also get another feeder and waterer as soon as I can so the feed and water are in two different places. Thanks again.