Please help, My two older hens are ganging up on my newbie!

[frickenchicken1]

Hi, I have two current chickens (Isa browns, 1 yr and 6 months) and we bought another pair two days ago (hyline hens 6 month olds). My older hens are bullying the crap out of the two new ones (schnitzel and mark), the two new girls wont stand up for themselves at all and just try run away while my two older ones chase her, corner her and peck her on the head like mad. Really its two against one, as the other new one (mark) goes away in the roosting room/ nesting box area to hide or whatever? This morning schnitzel (the one who doesn't hide) got scratched on the comb today and it drew blood, which got me thinking... does this hurt a lot...I mean obviously i know it hurts but I've heard that people dub there chickens so how painful could a scratch be? Either way- I still cleaned it and put some betadine on it and will do so tomorrow. So far they're fine free ranging together but most of the time they just stay away from each other, I cant have them free ranging everyday until night because i have school in a few weeks and I need to make sure that they'll be able to live in the run without them cornering each other. Also, whilst free ranging, when the new girls see the older girls coming over, they run away, ... its really just in the run that they begin cornering and attacking them.The new girl in the run starts sqwaking like mad too. They get pecked Especially on the head and neck, when one hen does it encourages the other to do so as well. So far they cant even sleep in the roosting room compartment together, I've got the older girls down at the bottom in the run sleeping in a card board box and the new girls at the top in the roosting area (may change it tommorow because I don't want the older girls to lose the habit of sleeping in the roosting area). I may also slide the old girls into the roosting area at night (tonight) when its pitch black so they cant see each other (can hens tell each other apart? in the dark??) I might also put vicks vapor rub on the back of the necks of the new girls (please tell me your thoughts on this.. does it work) as we dont have any stop pick spray in our pet store. I known its only day 2 and the fighting is normal, but im freaking and stressing out (as you can see by this essay of a post) I never knew chickens could be this mean and that it would be this bad! I'll update you on sleeping arangements. Also how long does this last? How long does it take for the pecking order to be sorted? All advice is welcome

 

[caracals]

It's normal that older hens will try to dominate the younger ones, esp if they're still pullet age (under a year)

There will be fights, and thus a new pecking order established. What you have to watch out for is if the pullets are bleeding, because this can cause issues.

Chickens can cannibalize/kill each other if that starts to happen, you'll likely need to separate the older hens from the younger ones for some time. It's sort of like a punishment, and it mixes up the pecking order once again. Give it about a few weeks before SLOWLY introducing them. Make them see each other through a closed off space/cage so they can interact without hurting one another.

If you introduce them physically and a fight starts up again, wait until it gets aggressive before pulling the older ones back out and try again. If in any case this does not work, you will either have to keep the older ones separate for some time until the younger ones grow more and mature, or give them away/cull them.

Best of luck to you and your babies!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Sounds like your current girls are the type where newbies need to be introduced slowly. Some flocks will accept new members more easily than others, and yours sounds like the slower tact is the way to go.
If possible I'd make a barrier in the run so that they can see each other but can't peck. Chickens don't really realize that a fence is a barrier (unless they're trying to go somewhere). If they can see each other, even with a fence separating, it usually means they're together.

there are a lot of articles and threads on here regarding how to integrate your flock.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search