YIKES FORCED INTEGRATION! HELP!

[Salinda]

I have four big barred rock hens that are about 6-7 months old and just recently ended up with 2 barred rock hens from a friend that are roughly the same age and size, also 4 bannies (one is a roo) and a younger barred rock hen from another friend who desperately needed to be rid of them. Although I tried to explain to my well meaning husband about flocks and integration, all the newbies from both flocks, ended up in one coop to keep them separate from ours. You know what happened and that lasted about two days. The youngest barred rock hen from the bannie flock was viciously attacked. To the point where there is no feathers and a gaping wound on her head. My husband saw my point but a little too late. We took out the injured one and it was in my house a few days while we doctored it and it recovered. However, with the weakest one out of the way the attacks continued on the bannies and I came home to find the entire new set of chickens in with ours. So much for quarentine. His thinking...let the big girls settle the violence. Believe it or not it did. Its been about 3 days and it seems they have established the pecking order and with the exception of the bannies being chased around there is no more blood shed. Yeah we've had them a total of a week.

This is my first flock and so I have a couple questions. First, since the quarentine is pretty much over, what do I look for among them now that the new ones are in with mine? We inspected them when we first got them and there were no outward signs of sickness, lice or mites. They were all pretty healthy, and we have added antibiotic to the water.

Second, will they ever stop chasing the poor bannies?

And finally, our injured barred rock has been returned to the now empty coop and is doing well and her head wounds are starting to heal. When and what will happen when she is fully recovered and we try to integrate her?? Is she doomed??

Any info would be good.

 

[teach1rusl]

Do both coops have runs, or do they all freerange together?

The chasing of the bantams will eventually end unless you happen to have a bully among your original girls..

I would make sure the scab is well camouflaged before exposing her to other birds. If the other coop has an attached run (or if you can set a temporary one up if it doesn't), you might consider putting the bantams back in with the recovering bird. That way when you reintegrate, at least she'll have buddies. It's usually brutal bringing in a single bird.

If you don't freerange, make sure there are plenty of barriers in your run...branches, stumps, chairs, anything that gives a chased bird places to get away to. Also make sure there are multiple feeders/waterers. If you have space in the single coop, add a roost in a different place for newbies. If you're able to freerange at all, even supervised, do it - it makes integrating much easier when there is ample space - and no territorial issues.

Since there really wasn't a quarantine, and you inspected them for external parasites, you'll want to watch for respiratory issues...sneezing w/discharge, eye issues, etc. Watch their poop too...for internal parasites or blood.

 

[Salinda]

I did set up places in my new coop for the bannies to get away and hide. Its also a pretty large 9x9 coop with a 10x12 run so they can always go inside. I also free range for a good part of the afternoon. So far there has been peace among them as one of the new hens I noticed has emerged as the boss although she seems to have a thing for pulling feathers. None of our original ones have any injuries or feathers missing. Just the one she came with. My bannies just stay out of the way most of the time. If I take them out wont they have to go through the whole ordeal again?? Our coop for the injured one is portable and we have it sitting right next to the other one since quaratine is not an issue now and they can see her everyday when she is out in her run. She seems to hide a lot at the moment. How can I hide a bald spot? Its starting to scab over now but its at least the size of a golf ball on the back of her head.

 

[teach1rusl]

You can try Bluekote to kind of hide the scab - just watch that you don't get it in her eyes. Tractor Supply and similar places sell it.

Is the injured girls pen small enough to set inside the run??? If so, that might work better than outside the run. And maybe go ahead and let her free range with the others in the evenings for a few days - that way she can get away if someone picks on her.

Because of that scab, you will need to monitor closely for those first few days, because if someone draws blood, they could easily kill her.

Good luck...integrations are tricky and difficult in ideal situations, and much harder under non ideal situations. Just take it slow...

 

[Salinda]

thanks for all the information. I love this site. I check it frequently!! you guys are awesome!!