Help! Head twitching after attack!

[minaayindra]

I am trying to introduce my hand-raised chicks into a new coop with a hen and her chick at the same time. The chick is submissive so he isn’t an issue. When I brought 2 of my other chicks into the coop, the hen pinned down the most submissive one and brutally attacked her. I got the hen off but my 8-week old chick won’t stop shaking her head now. I’m worried because it’s almost non-stop, even after she calmed down. Is she injured physically or is this stress related and will resolve soon? I feel so bad this happened...

 

[aart]

Has the chick improved?
Is it eating and drinking?
Could be a head injury...neurological issue.
Not much you can do, that I know of, but give some Poultry NutriDrench for a vitamins boost.

How old is the broody's chick?
Broodies are fierce!
Will add integration tips too.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[minaayindra]

Has the chick improved?
Is it eating and drinking?
Could be a head injury...neurological issue.
Not much you can do, that I know of, but give some Poultry NutriDrench for a vitamins boost.

How old is the broody's chick?
Broodies are fierce!
Will add integration tips too.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Yes, she is eating and drinking, everything improved once I got her sister in there as a "back-up" and removed the hen. They are being really kind to her chick, although he continues to run past them like the roadrunner because he was being bullied in the other run. Interestingly, they BOTH displayed the head twitch but it is better today (yet still there). Since they are both doing it, I have to think it is nerves. I'm relieved if that is the case.

I thought they had plenty of space so I wasn't concerned about that- the sheer violence of the attack, considering this hen is usually pleasant to deal with, shocked me. I had a huge feeder and waterer, which the hen hadn't even seen at that point, she just went after the others right away. She raised 4 guineas and this chick but he is 7-8 weeks old now and she wasn't that interested in him any more- I was told it was best to separate them now so she didn't start harassing him but, as I said before, I thought she would be a good body to keep in the way in case these much larger chicks decided to go after him.

I had multiple roosts, an outside run with more roosts higher up (which the little guy can reach but my bigger guys can't yet) and I thought that would be sufficient space to keep him safe; indeed, he has done well with them. What I don't have in there are actual places to "hide." I'll try throwing more things in as a visual break and add more feed/water stations before the next group goes in later this afternoon.

I'm really afraid to add the hen back in until way in the future, when I have a larger rooster to keep her in check. She is currently doing fine with the guineas but they are getting much bigger and they are unintentionally rough with her. I'm not sure if she could stay with them considering they will be able to free-range in about 4 weeks and that should take the pressure off. So many things to question!

You are a wealth of knowledge- thank you!!!

 

[aart]

If broody has weaned her 7-8 week old chick, put her back in with the flock.
I usually put broody and her hatched chicks in with the flock by 1-2 weeks after hatch.
Sounds like you have a lot of birds in different enclosures...kinda of confusing to me.

 

[minaayindra]

I have a coop specifically for my large hens, with a rooster. I have another for the Guineas and this hen is in with them. The third coop will contain my smaller hens. The coop where all the issues took place is my largest one, now occupied by 2 chicks from hand-raising and the very sweet chick dumped off by a farmer (with mom, of course).