Small Hen Odd Behavior

[Lyons Den]

Hello! Introduced a few hens to my flock on Sunday. One of them is much much smaller than all the others. She is a year old and is about half the size of a RIR. She has been picked on by the roosters to the point she is hiding in corners and under her sisters to get away from them. Should I separate her to give her a break for a while? Or any other suggestions? We are planning on getting ride of the roosters soon.

 

[theoldchick]

Remove the roosters and allow her to mingle with the other gals. If she continues to be picked on you will have to keep her separate from the others. Good luck. I hope she does well.

 

[chickens really]

Did you first put them in a look no touch pen?
Might need to get rid of them Roosters sooner?....

 

[aart]

Hello! Introduced a few hens to my flock on Sunday. One of them is much much smaller than all the others. She is a year old and is about half the size of a RIR. She has been picked on by the roosters to the point she is hiding in corners and under her sisters to get away from them. Should I separate her to give her a break for a while? Or any other suggestions? We are planning on getting ride of the roosters soon.

Knowing more about your flock(numbers, ages, genders),
coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
and what and how exactly you are feeding,
might offer clues to if there is a solvable problem.

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

 

[chickens really]

Sorry....Had to laugh....Lol....just Chickens and not a science project....