When will it stop?

[mcjessen]

I have three 11 week old pullets that I've been working to integrate into an existing flock of three 16 month old hens. The pullets are roughly 2/3 the size of the hens. The hens' pecking order goes like this, Black Australorp - Callista, Barred Rock - Salt and Barred Rock - Pepper. The pullets pecking order goes like this, Delaware - Della, Gold sex link - Butter and Speckled Sussex - Lizzie. Callista is clearly the boss of the run, coop and the world (and is a brat). She used to be a sweet heart but has taken to challenging me, pecking the fluff feathers out of the two BR and is becoming increasingly aggressive around treats.

Now to the integration...I had put the pullets in the run with the hens but separated for about two weeks. Each morning I'd take them from their large brooder to the run and each night I'd put them back in the brooder. This last week, I have removed the barrier that separated the two flocks and everyone is mixed together. The first day all three hens would chase the pullets - that was to be expected. The pullets are quick enough to get out of the way and still are now. However, after a week of moving the pullets every morning into the run and removing them every night, Callista is still chasing the pullets. It almost looks like a game. Pepper joins in the chase but Salt seems to want to make friends. LOL! I know I'm projecting human emotions on chickens but it's the only way I know to describe it. I'm moving the pullets in before I let the hens out of the coop so they are in the run before the hens come out in the morning. Both flocks have had visual and physical contact with each other for almost two months now.

My question...even though a pecking order is precieved to be established, when will Callista stop chasing the pullets?

Pepper chases them because Callista chases them. Salt is so laid back, I don't think she even cares about the pullets anymore. The pullets are looking a little more relaxed during the day but everything seems to ramp up after 5:00 pm when they know I'm home. I tend to ignore it and let them do their thing.

Also, I've been working with the pullets to get them familiar with the coop but they are afraid of it. I am apprehensive about throwing everyone in the coop together at this point because the pullets won't have anywhere to escape from Callista's evil wrath. LOL! Anyone have any suggestions on how to best integrate the hens and pullets together in the coop? I've been advised by a friend who has had chickens for years, to just throw them all together and they'll work it out. BUT, I'm afraid the neighbors will complain to code enforcement about the noise of the chickens "working it out". LOL!

Any advice is GREAT!

 

[teach1rusl]

Do you have any space for an extra roost in the main coop??? If there's any way of working that out, even if it's only temporary, do it. That will help with territory issues with the roost. You will probably have to put them on it for the first evening or two...
Are you absolutely positive that Callista is your lead hen?? My lead hen is so mellow because she has nothing to prove. My 2nd in command is a Nazi!! She's such a bully to newbies, fearing an overthrow I suppose.
Barriers (stumps, branches, anything - I have an old wooden step ladder in one of my runs), more than one feeder/waterer set apart are good things to have in runs when integrating...

 

[DelDels]

I'd put the pullets in the main coup and lock Callista up by herself for several weeks. Things will get more peaceful for everyone else and Callista will come back in as the odd one. This may make her behave better with you too.

 

[flewdacoop]

yup take the one causing all the trouble out and when you put her back she will be the new chick to the flock

 

[mcjessen]

I thought about separating the coop somehow but can't figure out a configuration that would work for everyone without blocking food or nest boxes. The coop is 4x6. Any configuration would mean that I'd need to cut another pop door. We do have two levels of roosts in an "L" format. The hens pick the higher roost. I did put the pullets up on the lower roost last night and Della stayed up the longest. I know she's got the idea. However, I don't think they know that they are supposed to go in at night yet. I know that will take some work on my part. I was thinking about putting the pullets in the transport cage (rabbit cage) at night and putting the cage in the coop. Just so they are all sleeping in the same area but the pullets are protected from the hens. There are barriers in the run and water and food set in separate locations.

Yep, I'm sure Callista is the boss. She's shows aggression toward the other two hens (all the chickens really). Both the BR's have bare butts and Callista doesn't. I've watched her pluck feathers from the BR's and peck/run at Pepper when they are eating scratch. She's also the first hen to go after the pullets. She also goes after me if I try to touch or pick up the BR's.

Callista is my DD's 4-H bird this year so she will be going to the fair for a week in August. During that week I was thinking I would lock the BR's and the pullets in the coop while Callista is gone. However, it is still 6 weeks away. I'm not sure we can wait that long. LOL! My urgency comes from the fact that the sides of my cardboard box brooder (4x5) are slowly weakening from the weight of the wood frame/hardware cloth tops we use. LOL!

Thanks for all the input. I'd love to hear from anyone else who has some ideas.

 

[mcjessen]

Sounds like the consensus is that I remove Callista for a while and let the others mingle without the threat of the Evil Queen. LOL!

 

[mcjessen]

One more question - when I separate Callista from the flock, should I separate from sight or sight and sound?

 

[Den in Penn]

If your trying to reset the pecking order, out of sight and sound for a week.She still may work her way back to the top, but she'll have to work through the whole flock.