Help!!- My old chickens hate my new chickens

[MissKittyKat]

Back story: I’m a pretty new chicken mom. I’ve had my first flock of chickens for a little over a year now. I started with 8, but then had two roosters that needed to be re-homed and then lost two to dogs. I was given 4 chickens who were about a month old in April. I have now been trying for the last 2 months to introduce them to my existing girls who are a little over a year old. They were fully feathered when I first started. I have tried everything but my old girls keep attacking two of the new ones. I think they are both roosters but only one has crowed. I have run out of ideas but I do not want to get rid of these two because they have become my favorites as well as my husbands. All 4 of my new chickens are scared of the old ones and get chased around the yard but only two are actually getting beat up.

Things tried: I started with the new chickens in a separate run next to my older chickens run. I also let my older girls free range around the babies run. Before introducing them, I let the babies free range first then let the older girls out. I used snacks to let them pick near each other. For a few days they were great except I had to carry the new chickens into the coop each night. Then it went down hill. Rocky (the rooster) was attacked first and needed to be separated due to bleeding. Then Phoenix (possible other rooster) had to be separated a few days later because of being attacked and was bleeding. I helped heal their wounds in the house and then slowly introduced them again. I tried using Vick’s vapor rub on all of them to confuse them (heard it worked in my Facebook chicken group) I also tried pick no more lotion that I bought at tractor supply. But they keep getting attacked. I have tried to separate two older girls who seem to be the biggest bullies but that didn’t work either. I tried putting them in the coop at night but the two keep getting beat up. I need things to try! It’s terrible to see them so scared and beat up. My coop is a good size. We have two long roosting bars with one higher then the other. All of the chickens try to roost on one bar so this weekend we are going to try to add a third bar that is the same height as the highest one. I also let them free range daily with plenty of food, water, and treats. The babies currently have a spot they like to hide from the older girls that is their old mini run but I would like to take that out soon. I need help with more ideas for my two that are getting beat up! Anything can help!

 

[Kiki]

Welcome!

What size is your coop?

 

[MissKittyKat]

I am not sure. We bought a coop in a box from Ace Hardware but then decided it wasn’t big enough so we doubled it in size. The original said it was big enough for 6 chickens. We also added a very large, enclosed run, but I let them out of the run every morning for the entire day.

 

[Kiki]

I am not sure. We bought a coop in a box from Ace Hardware but then decided it wasn’t big enough so we doubled it in size. The original said it was big enough for 6 chickens. We also added a very large, enclosed run, but I let them out of the run every morning for the entire day.

Can you get a few pictures of your whole set up?

Prefab coops aren't truthful in the number they claim the coop will hold.
Always divide that box number by two.


I have a feeling that space might be causing part of the problem.

 

[MissKittyKat]

Can you get a few pictures of your whole set up?

Prefab coops aren't truthful in the number they claim the coop will hold.
Always divide that box number by two.


I have a feeling that space might be causing part of the problem.

Yes I can get pictures tomorrow. I originally had 8 chickens in my set up with two roosters with no problems so I assumed it would be okay with these ones.

 

[50-45-1]

If your chickens are cramled in a space that is truely to small it makes integration harder.
I would sugest reavluating their area and solveing it by adding more space or decreasing birds.
Having said that, i would try pinless peepers on the two most aggresive hens, and if you have no good need of a rooster, rehome him or them.
I puchased 24 pinless peepers and the tool to put them on for about 13 dollars from Amazon.
With the help of my daughter i put them on one hen who was a determined feather picker. Took them off after about 6 weeks and she had forgotten about picking.
Measure your space, coop and run, add some pictures for the helpful experts here, we will try to figure this out. This is my Bad Girl.

 

[MomJones]

If your chickens are cramled in a space that is truely to small it makes integration harder.
I would sugest reavluating their area and solveing it by adding more space or decreasing birds.
Having said that, i would try pinless peepers on the two most aggresive hens, and if you have no good need of a rooster, rehome him or them.
I puchased 24 pinless peepers and the tool to put them on for about 13 dollars from Amazon.
With the help of my daughter i put them on one hen who was a determined feather picker. Took them off after about 6 weeks and she had forgotten about picking.
Measure your space, coop and run, add some pictures for the helpful experts here, we will try to figure this out. This is my Bad Girl.
View attachment 1847233

This is so great, and I can't help it--funny! Thanks for the info.

 

[MomJones]

I meant the pinless peepers--soooo freaking adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MissKittyKat]

If your chickens are cramled in a space that is truely to small it makes integration harder.
I would sugest reavluating their area and solveing it by adding more space or decreasing birds.
Having said that, i would try pinless peepers on the two most aggresive hens, and if you have no good need of a rooster, rehome him or them.
I puchased 24 pinless peepers and the tool to put them on for about 13 dollars from Amazon.
With the help of my daughter i put them on one hen who was a determined feather picker. Took them off after about 6 weeks and she had forgotten about picking.
Measure your space, coop and run, add some pictures for the helpful experts here, we will try to figure this out. This is my Bad Girl.
View attachment 1847233

Thank you! I’ll add pictures tomorrow. I’ll definitely try the pinless peepers as well. All of my girls fit across one roost. I have a second roost but none of them sleep on it. I also don’t have a door on my coop so they don’t have to wait for me to be let out to their run. I really don’t want to rehome the rooster. He is the sweetest one of them all. It was extremely hard to re-home my last one and I’m pretty sure the people ate him which is heart breaking.

 

[MomJones]

Thank you! I’ll add pictures tomorrow. I’ll definitely try the pinless peepers as well. All of my girls fit across one roost. I have a second roost but none of them sleep on it. I also don’t have a door on my coop so they don’t have to wait for me to be let out to their run. I really don’t want to rehome the rooster. He is the sweetest one of them all. It was extremely hard to re-home my last one and I’m pretty sure the people ate him which is heart breaking.

They ate the last one? This is all gonna work out. Keep trying new ideas, don't give up. We learn as we go remember.