Please Help Anyone.... :/

[Chicken_Lover_2010]

Ok I have a problem I think this is the section I can put it under. I have 27 chickens that are 5 weeks old right now, I found a home for the one that was being really mean to the rest but before he went, he really injuryed two of the others.

I have them seperated right now, but I wonder after they heal will they be able to join the rest of the flock again, or will they always attack them???

I'm new to this... please if anyone can help it would be very helpful... Thanks in advance.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

They will probably always be low on the pecking order but when they are old enough and big enough to defend themselves, they should be ok. But it really depends on how mean the birds are and what the conditions are like. Do they have enough space to avoid too much forced contact?

 

[Chicken_Lover_2010]

Right now i have them outside all day in a big run, and at night I have then inside in a couple of big dog kennels placed together. Cause I am still building my coop

I am hoping they will be outside permently in a couple of weeks. but until then they have to come in at night so no animals get them

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

I have 2 groups of hens, three are a year old, three are 6 months old. I REALLY wanted them all to "coop" together, but 2 of the youngest just can't handle it, they are just TOO stressed. Even though they are very close to equal size, I have them housed separately (2 & 4), but all six forage together. The one young'un that I did put in with the older ladies, is lowest in the pecking order, but although they bully her a bit, she's doing okay. She eats, she lays, she can't wait to get out, away from the others, but she isn't getting injured or anything. They all do fine out in the yard. They kind of break into two groups- older/ younger, but there is peace. I just have to make sure that they have plenty of time to get away from each other.

On another note, I did have my youngest Buff Orp get injured- not sure if it was a cell mate, or something else. She is absolute lowest on the pecking order out of the six. I brought her inside for about 2 weeks, then I put her out. She actually did better afterwards. She had a chance to be #1 while she was in the house, and gained some weight, and her confidence improved after that.

I wouldn't throw the towel in on them yet. Make sure there are not any bloody exposed spots, and give them EXTRA care. They might grow bigger than the rest and then fit in just perfectly afterwards.

 

[ScissorChick]

Thy may be low in the pecking order, but they can still be put together.

 

[caspernc]

27 chicks in 2 dog kennels is THE problem! IMHO. Mine (at 5 weeks) are in a 12 x 27 run/coop and I'm worried about space because the free range run is not finished. At this time they will come outside and will go back in the coop after an hour or so and stay more than they are outside! If I go into the run they come out then after an hour or so they are back in the coop. I guess the coop is done right! LOL

 

[looptloop]

I had 2 separate flocks of 4. They were 4 or 5 months apart in age. I blended them once they were all the same size. Sure there was fussing and pecking, but they worked it out and now they are fine. The younger ones knew to stay out of the older ones way.

 

[Chicken_Lover_2010]

Thanks everyone. I am going to try everything you said. Hopefully I will be able to get them all back together soon.

Thanks again.