I got 2 new POLs at the beginning of April (Hetty and Bumble) and slowly introduced them to my existing 3 years old girl (Red). The bolder of the two new hens Bumble, resigns herself to sleeping outside, so every night i put her in the coop myself. Tonight, a good three weeks on, I watched Red attack Bumble's neck by clamping her beak onto her neck. I've watched the usual 'pecking' order behaviour in the day time which doesn't concern me, but this seemed a little more. I haven't seen any blood, but it's obviously causing Bumble (and me) distress. Any tips/ ideas to ease the situation? Hetty doesn't seem to have any issues, and quietly goes to bed unfazed.
New hen integration issues
- Thread starter MidsYk
- Start date
rick
Active member
Hi,
Chicken relationships are very hard to fathom! When they take a disliking to each other it can go on for a long time although it usually mellows over time (it can many months.) Hormones change over the year, of course, and this is a particular bad season for emotions running high. It doesn't sound terribly bad between Red and Bumble - the most important thing is keeping an eye out for any injuries as soon as they occur but also keeping a close eye on both Red and Bumble's general condition because they can both get equally stressed in the situation.
The best ways of easing it for both of them is to make sure you have areas where they can get out of each others sight. Usually they wont react to each other with a couple of metres distance between them but if Bumble is a strikingly colour then Red might recognise her and react from considerably further away. Also try to have as few dead ends for Bumble to be cornered in as possible - circular routes are great for escapes. Having at least two feeders/drinkers, far enough apart and/or out of sight of each other, also helps a lot.
Is there a safe place in the run where Bumble could choose to roost as an alternative. Sometimes, when there are options like that, the aggressor may take a fancy to the alternative roost (particularly if it is higher) and then they end up roosting on their own.
It really is a roll of the dice as to how new hens will integrate and the reasons for difficulties (as long as they have enough space) is usually something that only chickens can know. If you added more the dice would roll all over again and there is even the chance that they would become friends in the new mix (not suggesting getting more as a solution.)
Chicken relationships are very hard to fathom! When they take a disliking to each other it can go on for a long time although it usually mellows over time (it can many months.) Hormones change over the year, of course, and this is a particular bad season for emotions running high. It doesn't sound terribly bad between Red and Bumble - the most important thing is keeping an eye out for any injuries as soon as they occur but also keeping a close eye on both Red and Bumble's general condition because they can both get equally stressed in the situation.
The best ways of easing it for both of them is to make sure you have areas where they can get out of each others sight. Usually they wont react to each other with a couple of metres distance between them but if Bumble is a strikingly colour then Red might recognise her and react from considerably further away. Also try to have as few dead ends for Bumble to be cornered in as possible - circular routes are great for escapes. Having at least two feeders/drinkers, far enough apart and/or out of sight of each other, also helps a lot.
Is there a safe place in the run where Bumble could choose to roost as an alternative. Sometimes, when there are options like that, the aggressor may take a fancy to the alternative roost (particularly if it is higher) and then they end up roosting on their own.
It really is a roll of the dice as to how new hens will integrate and the reasons for difficulties (as long as they have enough space) is usually something that only chickens can know. If you added more the dice would roll all over again and there is even the chance that they would become friends in the new mix (not suggesting getting more as a solution.)
Thanks. I’ve been keeping an eye on them and it’s slightly improving. I do have two drinkers and will add another feeder while things calm down, good point about the cornering, there is a place that can happen so I’ll block it off. Appreciate the tips. Thanks.
bigyetiman
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I agree with rick. Odd thing chicken behaviour, our neighbour got a new flock of chickens and one of the flock was bullied mercilessly although they had been hatched and lived together. So we took her and put her in a run next to our girls, and they could also see her when they were in the garden. After a fortnight we tried letting her mix with our flock, and everybody was and still great friends. Perhaps they are just like us and sometimes you just don't get along with someone.
