Reintroducing a split up flock

[EmmaDonovan]

I have all but given up on trying to get our flock to get along. Mixed flock of twelve, one year old, all grew up together. They are bullying, egg eating, and feather pulling. They're currently split into three groups: eight, three, and one.

We just completed a new run in a different part of the yard with all new toys and coop clutter. This will be new/neutral ground for everyone.

How do we reintroduce them all to the new run to give them the best chance at getting along?

 

[cavemanrich]

all new toys and coop clutter.

You may have your solution right here. There will always be pecking order activity, in most flocks. Having an escape route,, the weaker have somewhere to hide.
Chickens usually don't see other chickens, as potential threats/victims when they are over 2 feet or so away. That distance may vary,, but you get the idea.
Most issues occur at the site of where the feed is at. Best to have multiple locations with small quantities of feed available. Same goes for water.
I know you have squirrel issues to deal with. The multiple feed stations are not ideal in your situation. But try it first before giving up on that idea.
Now to the egg eater...... That is a hard habit to break,, sometimes only solution is Soup.
I know there are roll away nesting egg setups. That takes some building,, and teaching your flock to use such.
Now to the Bully,,,, that can get challenging. Often, removing from general flock, and then reintroducing after one week, puts the bully at the bottom,,, in pecking order. At least initially, since all newcomers get that treatment. If Bully regains power, and still injures your other hens,,,, time to find a new home.

But give it your best shot, at the new run. Observe,, and then make decisions as needed.

Always wishing you best,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Should I just release all three groups into the new run at the same time?

 

[cavemanrich]

Should I just release all three groups into the new run at the same time?

Yes,, that is what I would do. Then everyone is in new area,, Then they try to figure things out.
Of course do watch out for bad behavior. I did post a hint in a posting, not sure where now. I suggested changing bad chicken attitudes with a squirt gun. You give a squirt of water, at chicken being aggressive to another. The aggressor has no idea where that came from,,, since you are far away. Assumes it came from chicken it is trying to attack/bully. So its like the victim is fighting back. The squirt gun is of course HARMLESS, but it may teach aggressor to leave that particular chicken alone.

 

[cavemanrich]

I did mention beak trimming as an option. I once also mentioned this practice on another thread. Got a response from an individual poster never to do such. I do respect that person BTW, sine he was big in Battery Hen Rescue. Some of those he may have encountered may have been BRUTAL. I did not want to get in a debate,, so I did not respond.
Here is what I do. and it does grow back. It also gets the hook portion that chicken uses as weapon out of service,,, For a while anyways.
It is not painful to chicken. Similar to clipping our nails.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I did mention beak trimming as an option. I once also mentioned this practice on another thread. Got a response from an individual poster never to do such. I do respect that person BTW, sine he was big in Battery Hen Rescue. Some of those he may have encountered may have been BRUTAL. I did not want to get in a debate,, so I did not respond.
Here is what I do. and it does grow back. It also gets the hook portion that chicken uses as weapon out of service,,, For a while anyways.
It is not painful to chicken. Similar to clipping our nails.

Yes - you did suggest that earlier. I had forgotten all about it. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[Mrs. K]

At first thought, I agreed with the idea of everyone in together...but upon consideration, you might let your weaker or lower birds into the set up first for a couple of days, and then adding the more aggressive birds a bit later.

But a couple of other points: being raised together has almost no influence on adult behavior, and sometimes you do just get a bird or two that does not fit in with the flock. Letting those birds go, or keeping them elsewhere, just might give peace to the flock. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K