Integrating Chickens

WageSlave_3

Morning all. I don't know if this is the right forum to post this, but it's the closest I could find to the query I have. Happy if it gets moved somewhere more appropriate!

The problem - I have had three Black Rock hens for just over a year. Sadly, one dropped dead a few months ago. Yesterday I picked up two Sussex Lights (approx 20 weeks old). I got them back but since then all hell has broken loose. One of the Black Rocks seems to extremely territorial and is attacking the two new ones which sets off the second Black Rock to do the same. When I say attacking, its a bit like I would imagine a male chicken fight (the site won't accept the obvious word for a male chicken!) to be, so it's not just "establishing pecking order" type behaviour! At the moment, the two sets are seperate but the lead bird is "shouting" a lot, so clearly unhappy. The Black Rocks are a lot bigger than the Sussex lights, so they stand little chance.

The query - has anyone experience of integrating new birds into an established flock? I'd really appreciate some help on this as I am away on business tomorrow for the week and need to 'brief' my Mom who looks after "the girls" whilst I am away.

Thanks!

WageSlave

Penelope_Penguin

Good morning :beer:

Two suggestions:

• We've set up 2 separate but attached pens. The birds then can look at each other but can't mingle. That way they start to get to know each other but limit the damage they do. There may still be some sorting out of the pecking order once they mix, but shouldn't be as bad
• Something that has been recommended to us, but we've not tried, is to move the location of their food when they're mingled. It was explained to us that they're terrotorial over food, so move that to a new location, and they all start from the bottom rung of the pecking ladder

I use the word coquerel

When Pink-winged is up, she may move this to Old Style and merge it to the long chicken thread we have there

Penny. x

martindow

OP you need to separate them and then reintroduce them later. I have also used Penelope's two pen method. I have then removed the fence between after several days to allow them to setlle down as one group.

Another method that I have used is to introduce new birds into the house at night when they are roosting. They are dozy and sleepy so there is no fighting. In the morning the new birds are accepted - we've slept together so that's all right! There is a little bit of sorting out of the pecking order but in my experience this is gentle with no fighting and much the same as after using two pens. Once the pecking order is established all is well.

WageSlave_3

Thanks Martin and Penny,

I have seperated them by leaving the old girls out of the run and the new girls in (only have one pen). It seems to have gone all quiet. Also set up a temporary secure shelter for night time and will move the new girls there at night. I like the tip about moving the feeders following integration and also had a chat with the breeder (just managed to get hold of him) and he's suggested the broadly same as you guys and also added that a treat each evening equally between the two sets will start to show the old girls that the new ones aren't a threat to their food supply. When I get back from my business trip, I'll introduce the new girls to the roost once it's dark (11pm) and get up at 4am to seperate them out. It gets light up here in sunny Scotland quite early!

I was rolling on the floor laughing about sleeping together and being accepted! I must have a one track mind!

I'll take a quick trip over to old style (I nearly posted there) and seek out the said chicken thread.

Cheers again!

WS

Penelope_Penguin

Hello, again! We only have one pen, so we've fenced off a corner of that using chicken wire.

The Old Style thread is here: Hey! Let's keep chickens.

Penny. x

Mojisola

WageSlave wrote: »

I have seperated them by leaving the old girls out of the run and the new girls in (only have one pen).
Also set up a temporary secure shelter for night time and will move the new girls there at night.

Could you leave your new girls in the permanent run for a few days and nights so that they take ownership of it and then introduce the Black Rocks one at the time - the junior hen one evening and the bossy one the next. She is then the outsider coming into the flock and should be less likely to bully. I say "should" because some Black Rocks are very aggressive and she may always bully the smaller hens.

If this happens, can you make an internal barier in the run with a hole big enough for the Sussexs to get through but not the Black Rocks. We use this method when we are introducing a hen with chicks back into the flock - it gives the chicks a safe place to dash to if they're feeling overwhelmed.

WageSlave_3

That's an idea, Mojisola. Might well consider it although I have now briefed my mom for while I am away. It has gone quiet now and I saw 'junior hen' having a sneaky look at the new ones and not being too upset. 'Bully bird' has been to the pen and shouted at them a few times. I guess we'll leave it a week while I am away and then I'll do the house them together idea of a few nights and see how we go. I generally allow them to free range from when I open the cage first thing to when I close up once they go to the coop to sleep so there is a lot of space to run away from any trouble.

Funny thing is, I also thought 'junior bird' (aka Houdini as she always finds a way out of the back garden and is very clever about it - she even learn how to climb a fence!!!) was the boss bird while 'bossy (aka fatbird as she's plump). Guess you learn all the time!

Thanks again Penny - already had a read and got a few more tips!