Violent hens

[Kthornton17]

I have never had this problem before so I'm not really sure what is going on with my girls, can anyone help? I introduced some new chicks into my flock over the weekend. I did the same thing I always do when getting new birds. I keep them in a cage inside the coop for 24 hrs so everyone could get used to each other and then I let them out. I haven't witnessed them being overly mean to the new chicks just the normal chasing and carrying on that usually comes before they decide to be friends. But when I was at work yesterday they pecked holes into 2 of the new chicks heads, killing them. And again last night they killed 2 more the same way. Now they are seperated. Has anyone ever had this problem? And if so, how did you resolve it and reintroduce them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I introduced some new chicks into my flock over the weekend. I did the same thing I always do when getting new birds.

How much space do you have?

Age of new chicks this time around compared to birds you have introduced in the past?

 

[rosemarythyme]

24 hrs is really too short, IMO. I'd do at least a week or two (while watching their behavior) before letting them mingle, supervised.

What does your set up look like? What are dimensions of coop & run, as well as number of birds?