Picking on new ones

[Donverrico]

We just got 4 twelve week old chickens and our one remaining girl is being terrible to them...attacks them all the time...pulls feathers out. We only have one coop so cannot reall separate them. Any suggestions.

 

[CluckerFamily]

How did you integrate the new members to the older lady? I normally do the see but no touch for 2-3 weeks.
She is establishing the pecking order. Provide plenty of places to hide and places to get away from the older lady. If there is no blood, I would let them figure it out. If there is blood, I would separate her from the flock.

 

[aart]

We just got 4 twelve week old chickens and our one remaining girl is being terrible to them...attacks them all the time...pulls feathers out. We only have one coop so cannot reall separate them. Any suggestions.

How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimension and pics would be most helpful here.

Do you have a wire dog crate?
Might need to isolate the older birds for a time, off and on, day and/or night.

But think about these.....
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/