[Mahango]

I have got 3 light Sussex chickens  that I have had for over a year. I was given 2 black rocks that are about 12 weeks old so are a lot smaller. The light Sussex go into there hen house first and stop the black rocks from going in. The first night I picked them up and put them in but they were chased into the nesting box. Since then 1 seems to run the gauntlet and goes into the nesting box but the other one just stays downstairs I am worried that it will get cold. Anyone got any suggestions on what I should do ?

[cheekychick22]

I had this problem in the end I let them get on with it all they are doing is establishing the pecking order just be prepared for a few lost feathers. My white Sussex was the worst so I took her out for a day and night then put her back and this calmed it down.

[joyfull]

just keep lifting her into the coop at night, the bullying will get better. It is perfectly normal behaviour after-all how would you feel if new people were suddenly placed into your home (without any consultation with you) and you had no choice but to accept the situation? I'm sure you would also put them into their place by letting them know which bedroom/food etc was yours.
Just make sure you have several feeders, drinkers and hiding places so the new ones can eat drink and get out of the way of the others. 

[Mahango]

Many thanks for that. I will keep putting her in. It is just awful to ser her being pecked like that

[joyfull]

if it gets really serious then you could either remove the main bully for a couple of days so that the balance of power gets altered or fit beak clips to the bullies. In the meantime stay on hand with wound powder and purple spray.

[jhub]

It is perfectly normal behaviour after-all how would you feel if new people were suddenly placed into your home (without any consultation with you) and you had no choice but to accept the situation? I'm sure you would also put them into their place by letting them know which bedroom/food etc was yours.


I know how they feel, my brother and his family do this regularly

[debsiwood]

Hi we got 2 babies about 16 weeks old about 2 months ago. we had the same problem.

we ended up building a extra pen on the side of the main pen and locked the new ones in the old pen and the adults in the new pen.

This was so they could see each other by day and get used to the sight of each other and at night we would let the babies go into the coup and once they were in we would let the adults in.

This lasted for about a week then we started letting them out together in the garden.

It is absolutely horrible to watch them attacking each other but it does have to happen.

 Even now they will still, if a tasty treat comes out, try to peck the babies so they don't get any but it is getting better.

The bad pecking lasted about 3 weeks with mine.

I was advised to put something on all of them so they would all smell the same. I tried but it didn't make any difference.

My best advise is try not to watch

[sneezer]

We had the same problem Lula wouldn't let the new ones into the coop, so she was removed for 2 nights, she would then let the new ones in but only through the roof not the pop hole, then after a coulple more nights she let them in, but they had to perch were she wanted! 

[dinosaw]

Sorry I don't mean to be harsh but you SHOULD NOT be putting 12 week chicks in with fully grown chickens. They are way too young to protect themselves and will be unmercifully bullied for the next 8 weeks until they are mature. Do them a favour and build a temporary run for them until they are old enough to hold their own

[rileyfin]

I have found that if the young birds which are of a similar size and introduced properly, ie in pens next to each other so they can see each other for a week or so. Then in a large pen together during the day, with extra feed/water stations, introducing young birds is not cruel or a problem.

Yes there is the odd skirmish but it this is normal. I find the older birds do not see the younger birds as of much a threat as they do older hens.

You just have to take a bit of time

[cheekychick22]

In answer to you should not put 12 week old chicks in with adults well i have three twelve week old hens an 4 2 week old chicks plus mom and three adult birds who are all living in harmony together. when i introduced older birds before there was a lot of bulling but not this time the only bit of bullying is mom protecting her chicks. she does like to scould them but all is peacefull