when should i worry about my new chicks?

[PistolHollidayIV]

so I was recently given two chicks from my neighbors to add to my flock, they seem about 7 or 8 weeks old so I know they're okay outside but my 3 BR and 2 RIR seem to be bullying my little white one. When should I draw the line? Cayse they're already pulling tail feathers and it's barely day 2.or am I just getting worried over nothing?

 

[JedJackson]

You have cause to worry. Introducing new members to the flock is always stressful on all the birds involved, including the already established flock

It looks like the young ones have a place to get away. You might add more hiding places to help.

Draw the line when there is blood involved or the older hens get really violent with the young ones. If that happens, separate the young ones but keep them close by in a wire enclosure or cage, and give the older ones a chance to get used to them. Then, in a few days, try adding them to the flock again. It helps to do it at night, on the roost, sometimes.

No matter what happens, make sure these babies are getting enough food and water, because the older hens may be blocking their access to it. An extra waterer and feed station will help.

Best of luck! Post back if you have more questions.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Are they all roosting together okay? I've seen 2 mean RIR's kill another hen by taking turns pecking her head. They broke her neck. Not only do I not get RIR's anymore, I don't integrate quickly, it's a very slow process around here. I separate the run with wire so they can get used to each other but they even roost separately until the little's are bigger and they're all used to each other and doing the normal pecking order thing but not drawing, pulling feathers and/or blood, jumping on back's......

 

[PistolHollidayIV]

You have cause to worry. Introducing new members to the flock is always stressful on all the birds involved, including the already established flock

It looks like the young ones have a place to get away. You might add more hiding places to help.

Draw the line when there is blood involved or the older hens get really violent with the young ones. If that happens, separate the young ones but keep them close by in a wire enclosure or cage, and give the older ones a chance to get used to them. Then, in a few days, try adding them to the flock again. It helps to do it at night, on the roost, sometimes.

No matter what happens, make sure these babies are getting enough food and water, because the older hens may be blocking their access to it. An extra waterer and feed station will help.

Best of luck! Post back if you have more questions.

They don't seem to mean yet just really rude, like not giving them full run of they're area and yeah they're definitely guarding the wood and water so I have two set up plus several times today I've penned up the big girls and let the little ones get a lay of the land and eat and drink. It'd be hard to separate them right now since I'm dealing with a rather large mean coon(he busted my last trap I just borrowed a strudier one). They all slept on the same dog house(my coop in a coop for now if you will) and seemed alright they've just been chasing em and pulling tail feathers from time to time

 

[PistolHollidayIV]

Are they all roosting together okay? I've seen 2 mean RIR's kill another hen by taking turns pecking her head. They broke her neck. Not only do I not get RIR's anymore, I don't integrate quickly, it's a very slow process around here. I separate the run with wire so they can get used to each other but they even roost separately until the little's are bigger and they're all used to each other and doing the normal pecking order thing but not drawing, pulling feathers and/or blood, jumping on back's......

They've only been together one night and they slept alright they've just been rude all day. And actually weirdly enough it's my barred rocks being the serious bullies not my RIR twin. Fortunately they haven't been pecking the head or jumping on backs(yet and hopefully never) they just chase em and occasionally pull some tail feathers. I feel bad since they're such sweet gals

 

[PistolHollidayIV]

You have cause to worry. Introducing new members to the flock is always stressful on all the birds involved, including the already established flock

It looks like the young ones have a place to get away. You might add more hiding places to help.

Draw the line when there is blood involved or the older hens get really violent with the young ones. If that happens, separate the young ones but keep them close by in a wire enclosure or cage, and give the older ones a chance to get used to them. Then, in a few days, try adding them to the flock again. It helps to do it at night, on the roost, sometimes.

No matter what happens, make sure these babies are getting enough food and water, because the older hens may be blocking their access to it. An extra waterer and feed station will help.

Best of luck! Post back if you have more questions.

Sorry for the choppy reply btw I was trying to cover everything lol

 

[JedJackson]

They've only been together one night and they slept alright they've just been rude all day. And actually weirdly enough it's my barred rocks being the serious bullies not my RIR twin. Fortunately they haven't been pecking the head or jumping on backs(yet and hopefully never) they just chase em and occasionally pull some tail feathers. I feel bad since they're such sweet gals

All of that sounds pretty normal. Just keep an eye on them to make sure it doesn't get worse. But if it remains the same, don't intervene. They have to go through this process to integrate.

 

[aart]

Might try to employ some of these tips about.....
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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[PistolHollidayIV]

Might try to employ some of these tips about.....
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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Its kinda hard to segregate right now since we're dealing with a real mean coon but I'll try my best. The rest I think I have a pretty good handle on.

 

[3KillerBs]

Did you give them a see-don't-touch period?

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/