Help, please. Introduced 2 new hens and 1 new drake (7 months old) to existing flock of 4 hens, 2 drakes (4 1/2 months old) and a goose (3 months old) over the weekend. I am having to keep them separated still. Each day someone new decides to pick on the new drake (although he is holding his own). First day: original hens all picked on him, ganging up. Second day: hens again...the brats! Third day: original drakes decide to go for pinching and pulling feathers. Fourth day: goose gets into the act and chases him around.
I am keeping them separated except for an hour or so of "supervised play time" (yeesh! I feel like I'm their social services officer!), but what a pain in the butt! I just want harmony. Should I just let them have at it until it's out of their system? Is there something I can do to ease this transition? Are they just bullies? They don't seem to care about the new hens, but that may be because they are focusing on the drake. My originals free range during the day, so I'm keeping the newbies in the pen and then at night when originals come in, I make the newbies go in the duck house and close off the door between them.
My kids are being "traumatized" by all this not getting along. I make them play nice, why can't I make the ducks play nice?
Can't we all just get along?
I am keeping them separated except for an hour or so of "supervised play time" (yeesh! I feel like I'm their social services officer!), but what a pain in the butt! I just want harmony. Should I just let them have at it until it's out of their system? Is there something I can do to ease this transition? Are they just bullies? They don't seem to care about the new hens, but that may be because they are focusing on the drake. My originals free range during the day, so I'm keeping the newbies in the pen and then at night when originals come in, I make the newbies go in the duck house and close off the door between them.
My kids are being "traumatized" by all this not getting along. I make them play nice, why can't I make the ducks play nice?
Can't we all just get along?