4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[miffy]

after gradually increasing their contact time over the last week, I finally put all 3 girls into the cube run together this evening, I sat and watched as the all pecked each other pushed past each othe and then they all started pulling feathers out of each other. I sat firm and watched as Violent & Daisy set on Primrose pulled out loads of feathers and ate them then they really went for her whilst she kept trying to get away from them they kept on and on then I realised that Primrose had blood on her back where they had been pecking her. I removed Primrose, put her in the eglu run....then realised I was cryng!!! this carnage took less than 10 minutes. I know they will take time to re sort the pecking order, but I just cant bear it like this.

Have I done the right thing or should I just use purple spray and pop her back in?? please help

I guess I will be ordering more Bumpa bits

[tom123]

seperate the worst offender or if its both swap the 2 groups round, 1 in cube 2 in eglu. And introduce 1 bully at a time with the bullied with purple spray on. Do it slowllllyyy and you should be fine. Also free-ranging 1-1 if possible works well as they an get away from each other.

 

Good Luck

Tom

[TOMWARDFARM]

I have been quite lucky I started off with 3 chickens (1 was being bullied) got 2 more (they got bullied) then 2 more same again then 2 more same again )really bad for 1 as she was smaller) so I then had to get another 1 her size so she was at least paired.

 

The worst case of it I saw was where my 1 colombine would not come out of the shed it was that bad so I got her a friend the next day to sit in with her they then slowly ventured out and after a few scuffles they all found their place.

 

I introduce all my birds late at night when the others cant see very well and are generally dozy, then see how they get on the following day I have a reasonable size converted shed and they were only initially in a run 7'x7' but was split so had a second leven on hald of it.

 

Just keep at it iyou will crack it eventually

[miffy]

Thanks guys, I thought I posted a thanks last night but obviously not. I shall try introducing them at night one at a time, and order more Bumpa Bits.

[Egluntyne]

The divide and conquer method, as described by Tom works well.

 

Also feeding them treats in a line so that they are facing each other will help 'imprint' faces in memories.