Hello, I'm new to keeping chickens. I recently got two barred rocks and a week later got two browns. The browns immediately took over the coop and one is excessively bullying one of the rocks to a point where she must have been pecked in the eye and is unable to keep it open. At night, the browns will go into the coop first and the brown one will stand guard not allowing the rocks in unless I distract her. Then she goes right back to pecking at the one rock. The other rock tries to stand in between and it appears that she is trying to protect the other however I need the behaviour to stop. The second brown only recently also is showing signs of aggressiveness towards the rocks. Should I remove both the browns from the coop? Put them together or separate? Any help would be appreciated.
Welcome to BYC!
Chickens are highly territorial....integration of new birds can be challenging to manage.
Here's some tips and links.
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.
This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>
integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
