My troubles of adding 2 new chickens

[Savannahbeau]

I'll start by saying, I definitely should have read posts on this site before trying to add more chickens because I had no idea how hard it would be. Chickens are darn mean to each other. It's now been a month with the new ones separated from the older ones and I'm wondering if it is time that they can fully interact. A little background...

I have 4 red sex links that are 2 years old. I wanted to add 2 more chickens to my backyard flock and I got them 1 month ago. I got a black easter egger and a barred rock poulet who are probably now about 20 weeks old. I was originally told by the farm I got them from that I should just be able to throw them in the coop in the evening and they would sort it out and all would be fine. That is NOT what happened. So for at least the last month, I put them in a little corner in my coop (see picture) with their own food and water and they sit out with the others all day. They don't go into the coop at night but stay in the run. I added roost bars (see picture) to the inside of my run so that they would have someplace high to go to get away from the others. I let everyone out to free range for about an hour each day. The older girls (the mean girls) just kind of do their own thing in the yard but will still chase the new ones and peck them occasionally during free range time. I think it has gotten better over the last few weeks than when we started. They are still not what I would consider a happy integrated flock. I know space is an issue. Believe me, I would love to have a 20 x 20 ft run or something larger but I live in the suburbs and it is limited by law. My run is 6x10. I also probably made it more difficult by wanting black chickens. So they look very different than the others (red sex links). Apparently chickens are quite racist!

Now that's it's been a month, I'd really like to fully integrate them because I am super tired of having to place them early every morning and late at night. The new ones have gained a lot of confidence but they will still get pecked from time to time. Do you think I have done enough to mitigate potential violence? I figured this weekend was a good time cause I could sort of watch them for 2 straight days. Is it time? How much pecking is too much from the mean girls? By the way, it's pretty much all 4 of the mean girls who peck at the new ones, it's not just 1 mean one that I could separate.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am assuming that the coop is 6 x4? You are tight.

This what I would suggest is to let the old crowd out, and then lock the new birds in the coop/run. For chickens, seeing a space is not the same thing as having territorial rights to a space. In fact in keeping them safe, in a way is telling them, they do not belong in the bigger space.

Leave them there, while the others free range for as long as possible, (hours) then let the new ones out free ranging shortly before they would normally roost up, and watch carefully. Who is the first old girl or girls to attack them?

That night, put the aggressive birds in the little confinement area, let the rest out to free range, and let the new birds explore the coop/run area again, until shortly before dark as before, and then let them out. They should not be too much problem, and they should all come back to the coop. Let them roost together if possible. A little bluster let go, but of course not if they are killing one of them.

Keep the aggressive pair confined for a couple more days, repeating. Thing is, there is quite a difference between 4 against 2 and 2 against 2. Things tend to settle more quickly. When that becomes a comfortable group of 4, then let everyone out to free range and hopefully it will be done.

When the young start laying, and you are close, that will help huge too.

Mrs K

 

[Savannahbeau]

When the young start laying, and you are close, that will help huge too.

The easter egger just started laying this past week. Curious why it matters to chickens if their counterparts are actively laying.I will lock them in the run while the others are free ranging. They usually stay in there anyways but the mean girls come in to peck them occasionally. I believe I know which hen is the dominant one but all of the mean girls peck the new ones.

 

[Mrs. K]

All of them probably do, but you want the first two, they are the leaders.

I don't know why, but until pullets begin laying they do not have much social standing. Even if you are raising pullets in a flock under a broody hen, when they have out grown the hen, and are not laying, they will stick together in a sub flock in the main flock.

Then, when they get close or start laying...all of a sudden, the sub flock is gone.

Mrs K

 

[ChicNmom]

Your chickens are not racist. The new girls are competition for food and treats. Chickens do not like to lose their place and they are letting the new ones know they out rank them.

There may always be a little pecking. They should not be getting beaten up or bloodied.

As said. Give the ring leaders a time out.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Chickens peck it's what they do. They aren't mean just maintaining and establishing the pecking order.
The look no touch period is over and it's time to move to the next step. You've gotten great advice so far. Remove the integration set up and add some stumps, branches, chairs, etc. Make it a mess but make it functional. One, chickens don't like change. So changing things up is good. Two, it will give the chickens things to do rather than chase after new chickens. Just make sure no chicken can get caught in a corner where the pecking order can turn ugly.

Ideas for a cluttered run:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-with-ideas-for-cluttering-a-run.1627522/post-27797381

 

[Savannahbeau]

Just providing an update. Thank you all for the advice. I added some clutter and it’s been about a week that they’ve all been together without barriers. Everything seems okay. A little pecking and some chases but nothing that lasts more than a second or 2. Everyone seems to be getting food and water so that is the most important thing.

I’m still trying to get the new ones okay with going into the coop at night with the mean girls. I cant really blame them. I’ve been forcing them in at night and then I shut off the light immediately. Everyone goes to bed and that’s that. Hopefully they will gain more confidence and the others will be more accepting as time goes on. I added additional roost bar space by the way.

 

[Mrs. K]

This should only get better, they are getting close to laying and they are not being killed. You are over the worst.

 

[Savannahbeau]

Chickens are now getting along well in their run and when they free range. The barred rock is definitely the lowest in the pecking order and she still gets chased a bit here and there. I think she’s just too nice to stand up for herself. Just runs the other way. They are all laying.

The mean girls still protect the coop at night. To the extent one will stand guard in front of the door until lights out. The new girls roost on the bars I put in the run and seem quite happy but I want them to go in the coop. Every night I go out and put them in after dark. If it’s dark in the coop they are all good. They will roost with the others. I just hope one night they will go in on their own.

The new ones go into the coop to lay during the day so it’s not like they are scared to go in there.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I make sure mine are all cooped up every night even though I have an auto door. Sometimes it takes lots of training, but now my one coop of girls go to bed when I'm out and say, "bedtime". I think they wait until I come out because my other coop is already roosting for the night. They like routine for sure.