Mixing age groups

[chickenfan]

I have some three-year old marans and one-year old Marans hen that I would like to put together with a cockerel (that has grown up with the one-year old hen) for breeding. However I'm finding the older hens are not very nice with the younger hen even though the introduction has been quite gradual. Will this sort itself out, or am I trying to do something which isn't likely to work well? I could perhaps add two more young Marans girls to the pen, but they don't know the young girl that has grown up with the cockerel.

 

[chrismahon]

Whilst the cockerel will prevent extreme bullying Chickenfan, the little girl will always be at the bottom of the pecking order and bullied a bit I think.

 

[chickenfan]

Its good to hear from you again. Thank you Chris. The only thing is, she grew up as a pair with my cockerel and is closely bonded with him. But perhaps I should try to gradually integrate her with other hens her own age without him?

I am also worried about my remaining lovely Araucana (her sister died), in a group of six, who is bullied by two of the other hens, and one of them 'mates' with her. Her remaining friend from her brood is a splash marans, who is well integrated with the other hens. Perhaps I should make a pen with some birds who don't bully her? I'd love to put the splash marans with the marans cockerel at some stage, but I guess he would be too big to go with the Araucana girl.

 

[chrismahon]

You will find that removing a bullied girl and putting her with docile others, she may become a bully. We took a TNN hen who was badly bullied and put her with the Orpingtons. She turned into a monster and they absolutely hated her. So we took her out and put her back with her sisters whereupon she was bullied again, but such is a chickens life. You can try rearranging things Chickenfan, but don't be surprised if things don't go as planned.

 

[chickenfan]

Thanks Chris

 

[Nitram]

Good night, sounds like introducing new birds can create a chicken soap opera! LOL 08