Silkie turned nasty

[jag1876]

Hello from Scotland! I have recently (6/52) added a partridge and cookoo silkie to my flock of two. I have a large mixed breed chicken and one smallish white silkie.
Things are not settling down at all. I've had to build a small extra sleeping area for the newbies (Shug & Navid) my big chook lotto doesn't bother to much with them unless they try to eat her mealworms!
Winston, the smallish white silkie however is not taking to them.
Every day she is hunting them down just to attack them.
I have no idea what else to do other than remove them. I feel this will just pause the problem until reintroduction.
She is like something posesed!
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Vicky

 

[CCUK]

You could try separating Winston for a couple of days so she gets knocked down a couple of pegs. It can be difficult integrating new hens especially if there is one that is not very accepting. They can be pretty brutal with each other. Make sure that she doesn't draw blood and if she does clean it up or the others may be attracted to it. Persevere and hopefully it will work out.

 

[jag1876]

Thank you so much for your advice. Winston was broody 2 weeks ago and in her separate coop for almost 5 days. When I brought her out she was worse!
Should I put her in a run by herself where the others free range or put her back in isolation?

 

[aart]

I have recently (6/52)

Is this a date typo? Just curious.

Might be the broody is still broody?
They can be fierce!

Integration can take time.
Here's some tips and lnks on...
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

 

[jag1876]

Thank you also for your help. Everyone on here is so helpful. I do find searching for things on the site a nightmare though!
Sorry, the 6/52 is medical chat.
In general these numbers equate to for example,

2/7 is two days
5/12 for 5 months
6/52 being 6 weeks.

As they say, you learn something new everyday

 

[jag1876]

Winston has always been a little on the special side lmao! Perhaps you could say unique! Or just plain terrifying!

 

[aart]

I do find searching for things on the site a nightmare though!

It is indeed!!
Almost better to search google, threads here often are a result.

 

[CCUK]

Winston has always been a little on the special side lmao! Perhaps you could say unique! Or just plain terrifying!

OMG! Terrifiying I think! Is Winston Keith flints reincarnate?! I was wondering why she is called Winston but then, I have a hen called Pedro! Some good advice from aart. I hope Winston decides to play ball and be a little nicer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How old are Shug & Navid, is that 6 weeks their age or how long you have had them or both? Do you know their sex? You said they free range, is this when the problems occur? Sounds like it, which is discouraging. Is it both the new ones or does she go after a certain one?

There could be a lot of different things going on. Mature chickens can sometimes be pretty brutal to immature chickens. The more room you have the less likely that is to happen, but even with loads of room it can sometimes happen. Sometimes a mature hen can be really brutal to a cockerel, especially if his hormones are kicking in and he is bothering her. Some of that can be due to different personalities. I've had a chicken take a strong dislike to a specific chicken to the point of killing it while getting along with all the others. Or she may still be broody and is in a bad mood, though she should be spending her time on a nest.

Without knowing what is going on it's hard for me to make specific suggestions. If it is a maturity thing or a hen/cockerel thing time might fix it. It's possible you could isolate Winston for a week or so and let the others integrate before letting her rejoin them. I've had some success with that approach, but in somewhat different circumstances. It's possible you should rename her Attila the Hen, she may just be a brutal deadly bully.

To me it sounds like maturity may have a lot to do with it. The fix may involve patience. But when I have issues I try to determine if it is an individual chicken problem or a flock wide problem. I try to solve for the benefit of the entire flock, not just one member. I don't know where you are right now.

 

[jag1876]

Again, thank you.
I have had a small amount of success since yesterday.
I built Shug and navid their own sleeping quarters. I usually leave the door open to the roosts overnight to allow them to get up when they like into a secure pen. I've shut Winston and lotto in and let the other two come out as they please before the other two. Things were relatively peacefully this morning and so far still are!
Perhaps Winston senced she was in trouble!
She is closer to laying than being broody now, she usually mellows when she lays.
I think Shug is a good few months old, navid at a guess about 18 weeks.
All but 2 of my chooks have had boy names, Jack, Victor, Winston, isa, meena, lotto, Shug and navid!
I'm sure it's not shown over the pond as its very Scottish based humour but they are named from a comedy series called Still Game. If you can understand what anyone is saying I'd highly recommend it!