HELP aggressive chicken

[pips_pekins]

Hi. Picked up two new chickens on Saturday and since Sunday they have been in the same run. I have been using bamboo canes to separate it. It is a 3m classic run but the tiny little pekin can get through any gap . This morning, having sorted out both ends with food, water and grit, I left them to it. As I was waiting for the kettle to boil, I looked out and there was Bramble (the pekin) chasing my old girls into the eglu. Mildred, the wyandotte she is with, was getting very distressed at being left behind and could not get more than her head through the canes. Having encouraged Bramble back, I inserted yet more long canes and some little short ones.

 

I am sure someone is getting in my garden to wind me up . Otherwise I do not know how she managed it but 20 minutes later Bramble is running up and down the old girls' end of the run and, it appeared, was terrorising them! They then ran in the eglu closely followed by a flap of lavender.

 

Again, I got her out and put her in the other end. Checked and adjusted the canes.

 

Yep, you've guessed it, more trouble.

 

This time the serama is in the new girls' end and the new girls plus a very unhappy TNN are in the old end!

 

I have to admit defeat. I have taken out most of the canes so that they can sort it out between themselves. Have I done the right thing? It seemed that they were getting more distressed by being on the 'wrong' side of the canes whilst their best friend was on the other. The old girls are not impressed and are running away from the new ones with the dotte in hot but calm pursuit; I think it is more because she is interested in what they are doing and wants to make friends. There has been no pecking, not even any contact.

 

Would others attempt to separate them again or leave them to it? Can I perhaps leave them during the day and then continue to separate them at night until they are a bit more comfortable all together?

 

Many thanks.

Edited June 19, 2011 by Guest

[Redwing]

I'd leave them to it for now, just keep a close eye on things

 

They are all youngsters and these do tend to have far less inclination to rip shreds off each other like adult birds do!

 

I mix batches of youngsters regularly with very little argy bargey

[pips_pekins]

Thanks Tasha. I thought that was the right thing but just hoped someone with more experience would be able to reassure me which you have done. I blame the breeder of this little pekin She is the funniest thing and so persistent. She was never going to let a bunch of canes stop her. I am so glad to have got her. She is very entertaining.

[Redwing]

They certainly are cheeky and little madams

 

this is why I like Wyandottes

[pips_pekins]

They certainly are cheeky and little madams

 

this is why I like Wyandottes

I can see why now too

[ZoeBunny]

I would also leave them to it... they all seem very inquisitive of each other and not necessarily in a bad way.

If they weren't fighting when they were in together it might just be a case of supervising them together

[pips_pekins]

Hello.

 

Well after all the stress of trying to keep them all apart of course you were all right and they were fine(ish!) together for the rest of the day. At night the new girls followed the old girls into the Eglu and when I checked on them the new girls were sleeping outside the nest but close to the old girls.

 

Day 2 of being together went well and this is what I found on Night 2:-

 

 

They are so funny together and apart from the odd bit of pushing, they seem to be doing well. Initially they split into pairs but now they stick together with the new girls copying what the old ones do .

 

Thank you to everyone who reassured me. I am loving having more chickens x