Bullying Hens

[matthew2riches]

Ok.....

I have just added (2 weeks ago) 4 new hens to 2 Black Rocks that have been spared their lives (they're still laying).

They won't feed together unless they are very hungary (they're better than they were). They won't drink together and if I throw some maize or corn on the floor. The Black Rocks won't let them have any unless the new ones sneak up to a corner.

I went down to the pens tonight (pitch black) and noticed that they wern't even sleeping in the house. They were all huddled up in a pile during a very windy night!!!?!?!?!

I picked them up and put them in the house and I hope they remain there for the night.

I am now worried when they start laying... Are they going to know what a nesting box is let alone get to use it.

I have never had this happen before. What do I do? They are due to lay in the next 2 weeks!!!

Note: It isn't really possible to separate them and have different houses.

[davefromthechipie]

Im a novice when it comes to chickens but have had the same problem with putting in new birds with my old ones ,even with 2 houses/pens and having them apart for upto 3 weeks !! If you have only 2 then maybe making a temp house ( large box with a hole in it ) and chicken wire a temp border ,take one of the older black-rocks outs and putting her in the solo part ? I found this to work as the solo chicken soon gets bored of being on her own ( not the same but advice giving to me on here ) they just take on the new birds for company then bring back your older hen as she will then be at the bottom of the pecking order intill the group sorts its self out .

[di]

Hard as it is to watch Matthew,in our experience your new ones will be accepted eventually!!!As long as there's no actual physical harm being done to the newbies,then I'd leave them to it.
When we got our two Suffolk Pied(or Pied Suffolk?...never remember which way round!)they were initially kept in a separated run,joining onto the big run(they were only ickle).But as soon as they were almost as big as the older girls we put them in together.For what seemed ages they were left out...always the last to feed & slept in the back bit of the coop.Got even harder when Dandelion(the silver one) started sleeping in with the others leaving Marigold(the black one)on her own!
We've got four nesting boxes,,,they all use the same one!
They've finally let Marigold,sleep in with them all,but she's still the obvious bottom of the pecking order...to the extent that if I take treats in for them,I have to keep some back for her to eat from my hand.
We've found the biggest help is to have several feeders...they have a trough,& two bowls.Also two bowls of water.
Don't know how often you manage to get up to them,but I found the bullying got worse when we were only seeing to them twice a day...guess they were getting hungry & therefore a little more possessive over food.Now we feed them when we let them out in the morning and again around midday,then go up again to shut them in.
So,in my experience,you'll possibly always have one or two that "suffer" at the bottom of the pecking order,but as long as you make enough food & water available,then the bullying should hopefully remain minimal!
Good Luck & hope they all start playing nicely soon!

[-pat m]

I think this advice is spot on – there is a pecking order- and It is difficult to second guess it – we really want everything to be alright and them to get on as best mates but they will decide on when is the right time – Did you integrate them at night? I always spray with diluted vinegar when introducing a few new birds – The main thing is harm and damage to the new birds – the fact they are feeling a little ostracised is ok I think - and I wouldn’t separate them just stick with it as long as they are not getting hurt (not just a few feathers coming off as they walk past)
Keep us posted
Pat
I like your blog and I like the chicken video!

[matthew2riches]

I am not fussed about eating, they get food when the 2 Black Rocks have finished.

I am concerned about sleeping arrangements and nesting boxes. If they haven't been in the hen house for 2 weeks, that means they don't know where the nesting boxes are which means they're going to lay eggs outside and they'll get broken and eaten.

I'll keep putting them in at night until they know it's home and hope for the best I think.

No blood is drawn and they aren't pinning each other down so there isn't a major issue yet.

[-pat m]

I am not fussed about eating, they get food when the 2 Black Rocks have finished.

I am concerned about sleeping arrangements and nesting boxes. If they haven't been in the hen house for 2 weeks, that means they don't know where the nesting boxes are which means they're going to lay eggs outside and they'll get broken and eaten.

I'll keep putting them in at night until they know it's home and hope for the best I think.

No blood is drawn and they aren't pinning each other down so there isn't a major issue yet.

It will settle down - it may not feel like it now but it will

Pat

[davefromthechipie]

I am not fussed about eating, they get food when the 2 Black Rocks have finished.

I am concerned about sleeping arrangements and nesting boxes. If they haven't been in the hen house for 2 weeks, that means they don't know where the nesting boxes are which means they're going to lay eggs outside and they'll get broken and eaten.

I'll keep putting them in at night until they know it's home and hope for the best I think.

No blood is drawn and they aren't pinning each other down so there isn't a major issue yet.

They shouldnt take long, I trained 4 ex batts in 3 days to climb up a meter ramp and use a next box ( once introduced to my old hens ) it sounds more like they dont want to be with your 2 other hens so keeping away they arnt going to lay eggs next to the enemy .As i said try taking one of your old hens away for 2 days and keep putting the new birds in the house as your already doing , I am new to this but its worked for me.
hope it works out david

[di]

Can only speak from our experience...but our newer two have only ever laid in the nest boxes,even when they seemed total outcasts!.As long as you're putting them in the coop at night,I'm sure they'll get to know where the nest boxes are...try not to worry!

[matthew2riches]

I am not worried (far from it). It just makes you wonder. But that's nature I suppose!

[Glutton4...]

I've just introduced 4 to a flock of 16, and am currently having a similar problem. I hate to see the newbies being pecked and jumped on, but I'm loathe to interfere. 'Little One' is happy now though - she's always been bottom of the pecking order, but now has 4 to pick on, so she's making the most of it

Throwing extra feed over for the new ones didn't work, as the rest just bundled over there like a starving hoard!

I had to put them to bed the first night, and one of them the second night, but last night they put themselves to bed with no problem, about 10 minutes before the automatic door closed.

[HayleyB]

My new ten are still lowest of the low after 2 weeks, although some are integrating a bit more, they will probably be like that for another week or two and then it'll be as if they'd always been together

[dozey1]

I am having the same trouble except my 4 girls have been together for 6mths since i rescued them. Red is attacking Matilda all the time and she now looks worse than when i got her. I have had to buy an Ark from ebay and just hope that seperating Red on her own will work. I have tried everything to different sprays and holding red and putting her away while the other 3 gets some food. I have also now put in extra food and water bowls . Any suggestions anyone..

[Glutton4...]

I am having the same trouble except my 4 girls have been together for 6mths since i rescued them. Red is attacking Matilda all the time and she now looks worse than when i got her. I have had to buy an Ark from ebay and just hope that seperating Red on her own will work. I have tried everything to different sprays and holding red and putting her away while the other 3 gets some food. I have also now put in extra food and water bowls . Any suggestions anyone..

I'm sure I read on here a month or so back, that if you've got one particularly dominant Hen it's best to isolate her for a minimum of a week, so that when she is re-introduced she will be the 'Newbie.'

Good luck!

[dozey1]

Thanks Glutton 4 i will try and see what happens

[Birdie Wife]

Whenever I scatter feed, I try to scatter it over a large area so that birds at the bottom of the pecking order can find some while the bossier hens are busy somewhere else.