problem with pullets and full sizechicken

[wvchickenboy]

just this evning i got 4 easter egger and marran crossbreeds, and i have sort of a little coop that previously had just one chicken in it, it is a full sized marran, and she keeps pecking the pullets and is gurding the house and wont let them in, idk what to do, is this somthing to worry about ?? or will they just get use to each other ??

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You need to introduce birds slowly. You can't just throw them into an existing flock. Keep the new birds in a cage or fenced off area but within the flock at all times. Everybody sees, nobody touches. Leave them this way for about 3 or 4 weeks. After this time you can mix them in. There maybe some shuffling, but it shouldn't be too brutal. Of course watch carefully that day and the rest of the week and always intervene if it turns bloody. Keep several watering and feed stations out so the new pullets won't have to compete for food or water from the bigger flock.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!

 

[drumstick diva]

Do you have a large enough coop for all of them? You said it only had one chicken before. If chickens are crowded they get cranky and bully, or feather pick, or worse.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! X2 on the introducing new birds slowly and on the overcrowding. You need a minimum of 4 sq. ft. per bird in the coop and 10 sq. ft. per bird if they are in an enclosed run (more is better). Overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, feather plucking, and even cannibalism. Good luck in resolving your pecking problem.

 

[wvchickenboy]

Yes its. Big enough to hold them, the reason why there was only one chicken is because a fox got the other 5 while they were at my grandfathers, but now they are in a safe place with no predetors, and thank you everyone I will certainly try that, the only problem is that they are already mixed in together, right now, should I go out and somehow seperate them ? Or if I wait till morning will that be okay ?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! If you can, would be inclined to try and separate them just to be on the safe side, especially if the pullets are small/young, you don't want them trapped in the coop and not able to get away from the Marans if she decides to go after them in the morning. You got some good advice above on combining them, there is also a nice article in the Learning Center https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Michael OShay]

Hello

and Welcome To BYC! If you can, would be inclined to try and separate them just to be on the safe side, especially if the pullets are small/young, you don't want them trapped in the coop and not able to get away from the Marans if she decides to go after them in the morning. You got some good advice above on combining them, there is also a nice article in the Learning Center https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

X2 on Kelsie2290's advice.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

The best introducing method is the see but don't touch method. This involves placing a barrier in between the two groups of chickens. After a few weeks you can let them mix slowly.

 

[gander007]

X 2 on Two Crows