Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Janepie33]

DS has turned up today with a little surprise present - a lovely light Sussex. I know it is not a good idea to introduce just one chicken to an established flock (I seem to have ended up with 2 flocks, but that's another story). We popped her in with the big girls - 2 horrid bullies who pecked and stood on her. The new girl had a sort of leaping up and down contest with one of the other girls and now they are best of friends! Not sure whether to leave them all to it or go out with my referee whistle.

Any advice greatly appreciated, also any ideas on how to mix my small flocks of 3 and 4. Have been trying for weeks, but am just put off by the squawks and the violence!

[lindafw]

do you have enough room to let them free range...if so assuming they have been able to see each other so far I would leave them to it...there is bound to squawking and stuff but it should soon settle if they have enough room to get away from each other

[Janepie33]

They have been free ranging together, but the 2 bullies seem to spot the new girl (and one of the bantams) and make a bee line to them, peck them, pull their feathers and stand on them. They are quite evil!

[BocBoc]

Chickens are evil little beasts!! I was told on here a while ago to let them get on with it and only intervene if blood is drawn. It was painstaking for me but all six of my girls get on fine now - even prefer to all cram in to one Eglu together. When we got our two bantams we kept them in their coop and let the old girls FR around them for a couple of hours, then let the bantams explore the garden whilst the old girls were kept in their coop. We did this for a couple of days then let them all FR together.

Get a water pistol and go on patrol to squirt the naughty ones - it will only take a few days and then you'll have one big happy family

Good luck