Weeg
Enabler
I have searched past threads for answers to this question as I know there’s so many threads about integration, but I couldn’t seem to find what I was looking for. Apologies in advance for the millionth integration post, but I appreciate all the help!
For the last two weeks I have been trying to integrate an older hen into my bantam flock. Since I lost my eldest, and sweetest rooster to ALV, she hasn’t been doing well with the cockerel I added to that flock. She’s a sweetheart who is very submissive, and he was taking advantage of it. I decided to move her into my bantam pen hoping that would be a better environment for her. I’ve had her in a wire integration for two weeks now. It’s completely see-no-touch and the others have even been able to access her food my slipping their heads through the bars, so they’re used to eating together.
One week in, everything seemed to be going great, she even made friends with Sunny, my other older standard hen in there who is also her last flock mate when I had them together years back. I decided to let her out in a big free range setting, and no one batted an eye except for Birdie, my 1.5 year old Serama rooster. He completely attacked her. She submitted, and he continuously jumped on top of her, pecking and pulling feathers very aggressively. I even left it for a moment to see if he would give in since she submitted, but it was very persistent and bloody by the end. I scooped her up and put her back in the integration pen for another week. Today I tired to let her out again but had the same results. Instead of putting her in, I decided to put Birdie in the integration pen and let her free range for a bit. It went awesome! The rest of the flock hardly batted an eye, and she was very happy to mill around with Sunny, Birch and Zorro. It was very sweet to see her have friends instead of being a loner. Of course, Birdie jumped out of the pen and began targeting her again, so I put her back in there for now.
What should I do here? I understand it’s difficult to integrate a single hen, especially an older one. Does she just need to be in the see no touch for longer? She’s probably 10 or 11ish, and about twice Birdies size. Thanks so much for any insight, and let me know if you have anymore questions. I appreciate the help!
For the last two weeks I have been trying to integrate an older hen into my bantam flock. Since I lost my eldest, and sweetest rooster to ALV, she hasn’t been doing well with the cockerel I added to that flock. She’s a sweetheart who is very submissive, and he was taking advantage of it. I decided to move her into my bantam pen hoping that would be a better environment for her. I’ve had her in a wire integration for two weeks now. It’s completely see-no-touch and the others have even been able to access her food my slipping their heads through the bars, so they’re used to eating together.
One week in, everything seemed to be going great, she even made friends with Sunny, my other older standard hen in there who is also her last flock mate when I had them together years back. I decided to let her out in a big free range setting, and no one batted an eye except for Birdie, my 1.5 year old Serama rooster. He completely attacked her. She submitted, and he continuously jumped on top of her, pecking and pulling feathers very aggressively. I even left it for a moment to see if he would give in since she submitted, but it was very persistent and bloody by the end. I scooped her up and put her back in the integration pen for another week. Today I tired to let her out again but had the same results. Instead of putting her in, I decided to put Birdie in the integration pen and let her free range for a bit. It went awesome! The rest of the flock hardly batted an eye, and she was very happy to mill around with Sunny, Birch and Zorro. It was very sweet to see her have friends instead of being a loner. Of course, Birdie jumped out of the pen and began targeting her again, so I put her back in there for now.
What should I do here? I understand it’s difficult to integrate a single hen, especially an older one. Does she just need to be in the see no touch for longer? She’s probably 10 or 11ish, and about twice Birdies size. Thanks so much for any insight, and let me know if you have anymore questions. I appreciate the help!
