Chicken bald back

[Jonesey]

I have had 4 chickens of mixed breed now for 6 months (36 weeks old now) and recently purchased 2 more (around 20 weeks old).

 

After an initial pecking squabble the original 4 have their pecking order sorted and get on really well. The 2 newbies were introduced and the 4th in line from the existing flock went beserk when she spotted 2 fresh chickens in the pen.

 

No doubt she feels threatened and I expect a bit of bullying but this 4th in line is too violent. If she could hold a knife and tazer gun she would!

 

For 3 days now I have seperated the newbies day and night. Am I doing right or should I let them get on with it and keep them together day and night?

 

I don't want to keep them seperate permanently so any tips of introducing newbies would be most welcome.

 

[alet_chicken]

First of all, congratulations on your new hens.

 

I've learnt that the bottom hens are the ones to watch when it comes to introductions, so this behaviour is not unusual. Little miss 4th in command is probably overjoyed at the golden opportunity of not being bottom hen anymore.

 

You are doing the right thing by keeping them apart for now. It is a good idea to quarantine new hens for about a week anyway.

 

They should eventually settle down; they just need time to get used to the new arrivals. In my experience successful introductions take a couple of weeks (and sometimes longer), and the slower you can take it (depending on the accommodation arrangements that you have), the better. I would start by freeranging them together for short periods after the initial quarantine period, and then taking it from there, depending on how well they get on.

[jackian]

First of all, congratulations on your new hens.

 

I've learnt that the bottom hens are the ones to watch when it comes to introductions, so this behaviour is not unusual. Little miss 4th in command is probably overjoyed at the golden opportunity of not being bottom hen anymore.

 

You are doing the right thing by keeping them apart for now. It is a good idea to quarantine new hens for about a week anyway.

 

They should eventually settle down; they just need time to get used to the new arrivals. In my experience successful introductions take a couple of weeks (and sometimes longer), and the slower you can take it (depending on the accommodation arrangements that you have), the better. I would start by freeranging them together for short periods after the initial quarantine period, and then taking it from there, depending on how well they get on.

I agree .We introduced two new girls 10 weeks ago and it took 3 - 4 weeks before they were settled. The bottom chick Poppy from the origional ones was the worst...she screamed and cried for days...She was determined not to be bottom chick any more...They are all now the best of friends.

[Jonesey]

Thanks for the reassurance, its not a pleasant experience to see but hopefully it will settle.

[Jonesey]

Blimey hope they settle in less than 4 weeks, I introduced them to the flock for an hour and the bottom 2 in pecking order turned into ninja chickens, flying on the back of the newbie and giving it a right peck. 4 days in and I'm already losing sleep??? It's only a chicken I keep telling myself!!!

[Mrs Potts]

I'm just introducing new hens; three new ex-barn hens to 1 old docile hen. For Ninja reasons I have had to go for a 1 x old + 2 x new docile hens in the same WIR all at once, which I had not planned for. The trio are working well; old hen is boss although the new two have helped themselves to the nesting box at night and lay their eggs there. She lays her egg in their old sleeping box in the run!

 

Ninja is still extremely feisty. She spent the first two days moaning as it's still all very new to her so I have spent a lot of time talking to her. However, when it is her turn to free range she is still attacking the trio through the WIR wire. When they free range, they take no notice of her at all. It will take as long as it takes; I'd rather have three happy and one middling, than three unhappy and one very happy.

[Mrs Potts]

Jonesey, I've just re-read my posting and sorry if it came across as ending negative or critical; I did not mean it to. It is horrible to watch and after jumping out of bed at 6am on Sunday morning to give Ninja some porridge to make her be quiet, it was really tempting to put them all in together and let the best woman win, but I just can't bring myself to do it to Leia. She picks on Lottie but Ninja aims for anything that moves - she really is not fussy, so maybe was bottom of the pecking order where she came from (ex barn). Good luck with all your introductions.

 

Mrs Potts.

[Jonesey]

Hi Mrs Potts,

 

Thanks for the response, I find myself chicken sitting the flock until the bottom 2 from the old flock start on the newbies. Rightly or wrongly I punish the hooligans by locking them in a seperate pen and let the newbies have more freedom with the other 2. After an hour I let the hooligans out and the cycle starts again.

 

Have'nt had the courage to put them all in 1 house for the night, I have a feeling the wood shavings bedding would turn into feathers overnight!

 

May have a go at doing it in a week or so (if I have the bottle!)

[heth1986]

Hi Jonesy,

 

just a thought but have you trieds swapping them over? I mean putting the new hens in the permanent run / coop and the old hens wherever your new ones are staying? I couldn't quite decide whether you still have them all together during the day but if you disorientate the old girls a bit then they may not be quite so territorial?

 

Good luck by any means, I had it easy introducing my girls but I've heard plenty of horror stories!

 

Hope it all goes well!

[clucker1]

It took my first lot of intros 8 weeks before we could leave them together in the wir together. We have one particularly very DIM chicken who used to be scared of life itself. If she had been like her friend who joined at the same time, I think it would have been 2-3 weeks.

Will be intro ing another 2 in about a months time, so it will be 2 chickens being introduced to 6. It will be hard to ever see Dimrose being anything but the lowest of the pecking order, as she is still lower than gutter level in my old girls books!

[Jonesey]

So far ive kept the 2 newbies seperate in their own run whilst they can still see and scratch next the the main flock. I then thought why should the 2 bullies get away with it so I put the newbies in the main run and the 2 bullies in the prison run. My god did the bullies not like that! Only done it for 1 day so far and the bullies spent all day pacing up and down the side of the run looking at the other 4 (who get on well now). After a couple of hours I'm sure the bullies went into hinding to plan the great escape.

 

On the night I housed the 2 newbies in the main house with the 2 nice old flock and the bullies spent the night in their temporary cell. I opened the main house this morning and all was well with the 4. I let the bullies out of their cell and thought I would give them a chance to say sorry to the 2 newbies. I must be dumb to have thought that would happen, within minutes the bullies raced over like ninja warriors in slow motion and pecked away until I stood in.

 

I tempted to smother the newbies in marmite or mustard. That will teach the bullies!!

 

I now feel like a probation officer and had to return the bullies to Peckville penitentiary and let the newbies roam happily with the other 2.

 

How long do I keep this up before throwing a suitcase at the bullies and tell them to pack their bags??

 

 

Albie (No1 strict but fair)

Yoko (No.2 Thought was an all rounder but now a bully)

Marigold (No.3 I think she's on drugs- does'nt give too hoots who is who and take everything in her stride)

Albert (No.4 Youngest of the 4 and looks like a grey pidgeon- Bully no.2)

 

Hennah (Newbie- wants to join in but not quite got the confidence yet)

Whisky (Newbie- scared of her own shaddow)

[Redwing]

So far ive kept the 2 newbies seperate in their own run whilst they can still see and scratch next the the main flock. I then thought why should the 2 bullies get away with it so I put the newbies in the main run and the 2 bullies in the prison run.

 

This is a good move. I'd leave them separated for a week or so then introduce them one at a time so they cant gamg up on the others as easily

[scubababe]

Your doing what I plan to do when my WIR is built. I am planning to house my 3 chooks in the classic and then my ex-bats will be in the cube. The WIR will be split into 2 with trellis to that all can see each other but not launch any attacks. I will leave them like that for about a week and then slowly introduce my 'old' ones one by one.

 

The WIR will disorientate my 'old' ones so that should (hopefully) give me an added advantage!!

 

Well that's my thought process anyway

[Jonesey]

Your doing what I plan to do when my WIR is built. I am planning to house my 3 chooks in the classic and then my ex-bats will be in the cube. The WIR will be split into 2 with trellis to that all can see each other but not launch any attacks. I will leave them like that for about a week and then slowly introduce my 'old' ones one by one.

 

The WIR will disorientate my 'old' ones so that should (hopefully) give me an added advantage!!

 

Well that's my thought process anyway [Good luck matey, I never thought introducing new hens would be so stressfull, I noticed 1 thing tonight, I plonked the newbies in the main chicken house and the number 1 (Albie started pecking at the newbie, It was darkish and I gave Albie a sharp smack on the beak, she pecked again so i smacked her beak again, She then nesstled herself next to the newbie for a peaceful nights sleep. I'm guessing she thought it was the newbie that was having a go back so gave up??????

[Sami6669]

Reading through these has given me lots of food for thought, I've two new chickens (similar age to mine) arriving next Thursday. After speaking to the supplier, decided to add two of a similar age to mine (1 1/2 years), hoping that they will settle in better and hold their own. Lots to think about between now and then....

[jackian]

So far ive kept the 2 newbies seperate in their own run whilst they can still see and scratch next the the main flock. I then thought why should the 2 bullies get away with it so I put the newbies in the main run and the 2 bullies in the prison run. My god did the bullies not like that! Only done it for 1 day so far and the bullies spent all day pacing up and down the side of the run looking at the other 4 (who get on well now). After a couple of hours I'm sure the bullies went into hinding to plan the great escape.

 

On the night I housed the 2 newbies in the main house with the 2 nice old flock and the bullies spent the night in their temporary cell. I opened the main house this morning and all was well with the 4. I let the bullies out of their cell and thought I would give them a chance to say sorry to the 2 newbies. I must be dumb to have thought that would happen, within minutes the bullies raced over like ninja warriors in slow motion and pecked away until I stood in.

 

I tempted to smother the newbies in marmite or mustard. That will teach the bullies!!

 

I now feel like a probation officer and had to return the bullies to Peckville penitentiary and let the newbies roam happily with the other 2.

 

How long do I keep this up before throwing a suitcase at the bullies and tell them to pack their bags??

 

 

Albie (No1 strict but fair)

Yoko (No.2 Thought was an all rounder but now a bully)

Marigold (No.3 I think she's on drugs- does'nt give too hoots who is who and take everything in her stride)

Albert (No.4 Youngest of the 4 and looks like a grey pidgeon- Bully no.2)

 

Hennah (Newbie- wants to join in but not quite got the confidence yet)

Whisky (Newbie- scared of her own shaddow)

 

 

It is 6am and I am still my half a sleep self , but you made me laugh so much ..Sorry but it was your way with words

Hang on in there ,when I introduced my 2 new girls I was in tears,wondering if I had done the right thing.I even went round to a neighbour and said sorry for one of mine that was screaming like a washer woman ...As I said in my previous post it took me 4 weeks ,perhaps I was lucky

[Mrs Potts]

Jonesy, there is hope.

When Ninja free ranges now, she does not launch herself at the WIR, talons first, ready and loaded, landing about a foot up the side of the WIR. She just stands there eyeballing them, chewing the grass they can't get to.

That is a good sign.

[heth1986]

I tempted to smother the newbies in marmite or mustard. That will teach the bullies!!

 

Mine LOVE marmite!

[Jonesey]

Reading through these has given me lots of food for thought, I've two new chickens (similar age to mine) arriving next Thursday. After speaking to the supplier, decided to add two of a similar age to mine (1 1/2 years), hoping that they will settle in better and hold their own. Lots to think about between now and then....

 

Hi Sami6669

 

That sounds a good idea, the pecking order will still be fought but your newbies will be ready for battle unlike the young uns.

 

Good luck

[Monty14]

I introduced 2 newbies to the Gang of Four a couple of weeks ago and it's getting better. I expected the pecks and squabbles but the meanest thing is my 'old guard' not letting the new girls into the coop at bedtime. I've had to 'help' them in on several occasions. The worst offenders are the two lowest placed hens. It is gradually getting better, but it takes time just like anything important will take time.

 

Daisy, Black Orpington

Mabel, Speckledy

Milly, ISA Brown

Jasmine, a Jasmine!

Lily, White Star

Tilly - the 'yet to lay' Araucana

[Sami6669]

Girls arrived on Thursday afternoon (Martha and Amelia) they are a bit older than my two, but seem smaller. I put them in the rabbit's run initially, then introduced the other two (Clara and Priscilla). Priscilla was the one who started pecking at the newbies when they came near, Clara was fine. I had to put them all together in the Egloo, as that is where they needed to spend the night, we have a lot of foxes in the area, and surprise surprise, they like my garden. I did wash out the Egloo, add some extra branches to perch on, two waters and two food containers, but they can only be placed at the door end as I can't reach any further in the extended run, to help them all settle. I though having them on two sides might help with sharing. I was very wrong, Clara started getting pecky along with Priscilla, they are worse than introducing cats or small furries, but they did all go to bed together. The morning brought new challenges. The newbies were being kept at the coup end away from the food and drink and when they did venture down the run, the others chased them back. I have separated them a couple of times today, but Clara managed to break one of the newbies eggs, either by accident when fighting or by pecking at it because she wanted to lay there. But she was also eating it, (I took it away) this is a first for her, and I don't want her to get a taste for it. Am I just going to have to wait this out, I'm worried about the newbies not getting food or water when I go back to work on Monday.

[Sami6669]

Managed to move another water closer to the coup and sprinkle pockets of food around, too busy eating to peck each other, not sure how long this will last though

[Monty14]

Update on my two newbies. Found Jasmine cowering in the nest box yesterday with a bloodied nostril and comb. Cleaned her up and put the purple spray on. Today found little Lily with a bloodied comb and head after she had laid. Found blood on my Araucana's beak/face and she was crowing triumphantly. Turns out Araucana (who is 13 months old and has never laid was attacking them in the nest box as they went to lay - neighbour saw and heard it whilst I was out. Offender is now on her own in a separate run whilst the new girls integrate with the rest of the gang.

[Jonesey]

Hi Monty, Mrs Potts and all,

 

Well, after 3 weeks of the bullies confined to pecville prison I decided to let them loose with the rest of the flock. (The bullies now have a probationary officer Albie who is My pecking order number 1 hen).

 

Each time the bullies go near her or the food Albie gives them a right '"Ooops, word censored!" off' peck, something she never did to them before.

 

Now and again the two bullies will run a coupke of strides to peck to newbies but that's better than what it wasin the first few days.

 

They all went to bed together last night and came out ok this morning.

 

What I have noticed is the 6 are now split into 3 couples, the newbies, the bulies and the friendly two.

 

I'm still keeping an eye on them as pecking order seems to be all over the place again.

 

Tha

[Miggy]

We are also in the middle of an introduction. A death meant we were left with the one hybrid and didn't want her to get lonely. We were recomended to get a couple of ex-bat as they would be the same age-ish as our girl. I can tell you she was not happy at the newbies and all hell has let loose. The biggest ex-bat beats up our girl and she in turn is mercyless on the small ex-bat. We are trying to keep them apart and letting them near each other under supervision with some corn but it is a nightmare. We are at the end of week one. I hope it doesn't take much longer our nerves wont take it and we are going away in a couple of weeks.

 

Miggy