See but no touch not working

[a74aggie]

I lost a mamma hen to a hawk while she was raising a single chick. The chick managed to take cover, and survived. I finished raising her inside and when she was ready to withstand the temperature, I put her in an enclosed area (sides are all wire) right next to the main chicken run. My main flock consist of 4 hens, one rooster, and 2 guineas who think they are chickens.
This "see but no touch" set up has been ongoing for 6 weeks. (The chick is now 3 1/2 months old)
After about 4 weeks, I released her outside with my main flock.
All h_ _ _ broke loose. I thought they were going to kill her. The rooster initiated it.
I put her back into her enclosure, where the main flock could still see her.
Last week (week 6) I released her with the main flock again and the same gang attack happened. This time one of the guineas instigated it and the rooster and hens all chimed in....instantly.

Any suggestions?

 

[bobbi-j]

How big of an area (in feet by feet) are you releasing her into? Are there hiding places for her to get out of the line of sight of the other birds? Do you have multiple feeding and watering stations? Integrating a single bird does seem to be a little more difficult than adding several. Probably because she is the only target. With several, at least some of the pressure is off one bird.

 

[a74aggie]

Releasing her into an area approx 50 feet x 75 feet. It is a wooded area that is fenced off so there are hiding places. I am ordering 16 chicks soon so maybe I will just keep her in her 10'x6' area..... until I release all 16 on the gang of bullies....LOL

 

[aart]

The segregation part of 'see no touch' is just the beginning of integration.
The wooded area might not have the kind of hiding places she needs.
Multiple feed-water stations are important.
Integrating her with the chicks might not go any better.
I'd try to integrate her now and integrate the chicks when young.

Here's some more tips, note 'hiding places'.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[a74aggie]

Thanks for the good info.
Appreciate it.