Trouble Introducing Polish Roo to older flock of Hens

[MoTusty]

Hi! We have three 2 year old hens (2 lacewings and 1 easter egger). In June we ordered three 1 day old Polish girls to increase the flock, but as it happens, one turned out to be a rooster and one female got taken by a fox. So now we are integrating 1 Polish hen and 1 Polish roo. We tried having them in a pen near the coop for several weeks, and then recently introduced the new 'chicks'. The two lacewings (one if whichs has become very aggressive), pecked the Polish roo until he was bleeding. They are really nasty towards him, and he's terrified. We kept the 2 Polish separate for another 2 weeks, but close by in sight. We let them all out to free range, and within 10 minutes the 2 lacewings had the roo cornered and were pecking him again. The two Polish are so terrified they run in fear from the two lacewings at this point. (the Americana couldn't care less).
Does the Polish Roo need to be bigger to have a chance to coexist in the flock, is there any hope of coexistence? Or will the older hens always attack him? If we were to get rid of the roo, would they accept the one Polish female, since she now sticks with the roo and is also afraid of the others? Advice appreciated!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Have your birds seen polish before? You may have big problems as generally non crested birds will peck crested birds crest especially if they didn't grow up together. You definitely will have troubles if your birds are confined to a run. I personally wouldn't try it. I've had them peck the skull open and kill a polish rooster. They are considered a challenging breed.

 

[Peeps61]

Hhmmm. I can share my experience with my "surprise" polish rooster, and maybe that will be helpful for you.

My Polish came with an order of 25 mixed breed egg laying chicks from the hatchery. So, he grew up with that particular group of birds. When they were about 6 weeks old, I started letting them free range with the older flock. There was some pecking and chasing, but within a week, they were co-existing fairly well, with an occasional scuffle. when the roo reached puberty, the older hens had nothing to do with him. He was able to mate with the younger birds that we laying eggs, and since he was the only roo, he had plenty to choose from.

I did notice that when he was at least the same size, or bigger than the older hens, he was able get them to submit and mate with them.

You might try getting a few other chicks so that you will have some younger birds to take up the attention of the older ones. If you have one that is a definite bully, separate her out for a week or two, let the others settle in, then put her back into the flock. Hopefully, she'll have to start over with the pecking order stuff, and the Polish will have figured out that she's not all that.

I loved my polish - he was very pretty and not human aggressive, a trait that he has passed on to his chicks.

Good luck!

 

[MoTusty]

Have your birds seen polish before? You may have big problems as generally non crested birds will peck crested birds crest especially if they didn't grow up together. You definitely will have troubles if your birds are confined to a run. I personally wouldn't try it. I've had them peck the skull open and kill a polish rooster. They are considered a challenging breed.

I haven't read that before about mixing Polish with other breeds. They free range, but for the moment I'm keeping the two Polish separated. It's mainly one aggressive lacewing hen that goes after him, even when free ranging, so maybe he just needs to get bigger...I can wait a little longer, but good to know that this could be a long term issue. thanks for the reply.

 

[MoTusty]

Hhmmm. I can share my experience with my "surprise" polish rooster, and maybe that will be helpful for you.

My Polish came with an order of 25 mixed breed egg laying chicks from the hatchery. So, he grew up with that particular group of birds. When they were about 6 weeks old, I started letting them free range with the older flock. There was some pecking and chasing, but within a week, they were co-existing fairly well, with an occasional scuffle. when the roo reached puberty, the older hens had nothing to do with him. He was able to mate with the younger birds that we laying eggs, and since he was the only roo, he had plenty to choose from.

I did notice that when he was at least the same size, or bigger than the older hens, he was able get them to submit and mate with them.

You might try getting a few other chicks so that you will have some younger birds to take up the attention of the older ones. If you have one that is a definite bully, separate her out for a week or two, let the others settle in, then put her back into the flock. Hopefully, she'll have to start over with the pecking order stuff, and the Polish will have figured out that she's not all that.

I loved my polish - he was very pretty and not human aggressive, a trait that he has passed on to his chicks.

Good luck!

Thanks for your reply! The Polish Roo is very sweet and I don't think he's "hit his prime" yet, so I'll keep him separated until he's equal size. I tried separating the aggressive lacewing hen for a few days, but maybe that wasn't long enough. She's the main one that seeks him out and corners him, even when they free range. Winter is coming, so I have to decide if I need to set up a separate coop for the two Polish. (Although I would like to move the one female Polish in with the other hens, but she's bonded with the roo and always seeks him out, so I think I have to keep them together?) . This is why I wanted all hens, I've never had this kind of trouble introducing new chickens of different breeds before!!

 

[Sneebsey]

Rather than keeping the Polish separate, I would segregate the two bullies on their own. This way, the Polish can get to know your EE, and develop an idea of the territory while the bullies are confined. Hopefully if you can do this for a week or so, they will understand that their territory must be shared with the two new birds.

 

[Peeps61]

Rather than keeping the Polish separate, I would segregate the two bullies on their own. This way, the Polish can get to know your EE, and develop an idea of the territory while the bullies are confined. Hopefully if you can do this for a week or so, they will understand that their territory must be shared with the two new birds.

Great post!

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Does anyone in Maine have some polishes there selling I'm looking for a friend for my little rooster Winslow

 

[21hens-incharge]

What's a lacewing hen???

I happen to agree with @oldhenlikesdogs.

Nothing so awful as having a bloody scalped bird.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

It's bad