- May 29, 2011
- 46
- 18
- 99
Need some input! I've got six new six week old chicks (now 7 weeks) that I introduced to my flock of 8 older chickens (between 2-3 Yrs old) last week. Done this several times in the past, and these behaved similarly, stayed to themselves, got harassed away from the feeder when the others want to eat, last to go into the coop at night...
But this time, the one that WAS the lowest in the pecking order ('Mrs. Featherbottom'), who seems a bit 'disturbed' anyway, actually goes after them. Looks for them during the day, chases the down and pecks them. Waits on the 'deck' of the coop outside the door and chases them away at night and then stays on the floor inside rather than roosting, so the little ones won't come in.
The other chickens typically go roost and will let the little ones in (like they don't want the competition but they 'get it', they know how it all works) and the one day that I really let it go till just before the (light activated) door would close on its own, one of them even came out grabbed Featherbottom by the neck and dragged her in so the babies could come up the ramp and go in. Most days though I've had to go out, encourage her to go roost then lead the babies in.
At this point the babies are all actually walking over to the coop at the right time, and even finding their way up the ramp to the door, but ALWAYS being repelled by Featherbottom (unless I deal with her first).
I don't recall it begin this difficult with other introductions in the past, or the lowest on the pecking order being THIS aggressive to the new chicks (let them know their place, but not likely to harm them or bar them from the coop) and as I said, I think Featherbottom may be a little messed up anyway.
Last year when she was broody I gave her a couple of chicks (as I'd done with others in the past) and she killed both of them! Don't know how, but put them in the nest with her and the next day they were dead.
So I'm wondering what the likelihood of her being nuts vs just settling down, or even of learning (by me teaching her!) that she needs to let them in and stop harassing them so much? Is it likely or possible she IS just 'disturbed' and needs to go? I don't know 'abnormal chicken psychiatry', so I don't know where we're going from here!
Again in the past, they've been aggressive if the babies went in before the grownups were settled and in their places, but otherwise, didn't really care and certainly never waited and brooded (in the figurative sense) at the door or on the landing to repel them, as Featherbottom is.
So I guess my question is, am I just remembering the past integrations poorly (or with rose colored glasses) or is this chicken crazy and a danger to the little ones? Is giving her a 'stern shooing' to convince her to knock it off and go roost (as seemed to work the one night) a good idea, or a waste of time, or even detrimental?
Again, it seems the babies have pretty much figured out how to get in and be safe at night at this point, so I don't want to loose 4 babies to a fox because one unbalanced 3 year old isn't letting them in.
By the same token, I'm home each night for the foreseeable future (~!~) so I can go out and deal with her and them each night if it's something that IS likely to pass given a few more nights...?
Any input or suggestions are much appreciated!
But this time, the one that WAS the lowest in the pecking order ('Mrs. Featherbottom'), who seems a bit 'disturbed' anyway, actually goes after them. Looks for them during the day, chases the down and pecks them. Waits on the 'deck' of the coop outside the door and chases them away at night and then stays on the floor inside rather than roosting, so the little ones won't come in.
The other chickens typically go roost and will let the little ones in (like they don't want the competition but they 'get it', they know how it all works) and the one day that I really let it go till just before the (light activated) door would close on its own, one of them even came out grabbed Featherbottom by the neck and dragged her in so the babies could come up the ramp and go in. Most days though I've had to go out, encourage her to go roost then lead the babies in.
At this point the babies are all actually walking over to the coop at the right time, and even finding their way up the ramp to the door, but ALWAYS being repelled by Featherbottom (unless I deal with her first).
I don't recall it begin this difficult with other introductions in the past, or the lowest on the pecking order being THIS aggressive to the new chicks (let them know their place, but not likely to harm them or bar them from the coop) and as I said, I think Featherbottom may be a little messed up anyway.
Last year when she was broody I gave her a couple of chicks (as I'd done with others in the past) and she killed both of them! Don't know how, but put them in the nest with her and the next day they were dead.
So I'm wondering what the likelihood of her being nuts vs just settling down, or even of learning (by me teaching her!) that she needs to let them in and stop harassing them so much? Is it likely or possible she IS just 'disturbed' and needs to go? I don't know 'abnormal chicken psychiatry', so I don't know where we're going from here!
Again in the past, they've been aggressive if the babies went in before the grownups were settled and in their places, but otherwise, didn't really care and certainly never waited and brooded (in the figurative sense) at the door or on the landing to repel them, as Featherbottom is.
So I guess my question is, am I just remembering the past integrations poorly (or with rose colored glasses) or is this chicken crazy and a danger to the little ones? Is giving her a 'stern shooing' to convince her to knock it off and go roost (as seemed to work the one night) a good idea, or a waste of time, or even detrimental?
Again, it seems the babies have pretty much figured out how to get in and be safe at night at this point, so I don't want to loose 4 babies to a fox because one unbalanced 3 year old isn't letting them in.
By the same token, I'm home each night for the foreseeable future (~!~) so I can go out and deal with her and them each night if it's something that IS likely to pass given a few more nights...?
Any input or suggestions are much appreciated!
