[superhoop]

I introduced 2 POL Red Rangers to my 1yr old 5 ISA Browns a week ago and turned my lovable ISA Browns into savage monsters. I have a 20' x 20' run and have had to separate them. Whilst this stops the bullying I feel that this is not the solution. I have tried to integrate slowly them to no avail. Will they ever be 1 happy family.

Yesterday one of the ISAs layed an egg in the run, all the other ISA browns couldn't get to it quick enough to eat it, it was carnage.

I'm pretty new to the chicken game, I did do my homework before I started chickens but this last week has left me at a loss at what to do!

Can anyone advise?  

[Aunt Sally]

In my very limited experience it takes up to 3 weeks to introduce new birds to old ones.

It can be a good idea to give the new girls the original housing and treat the old girls as the newcommers in the new location, but so that they can all see each other.

[Nats]

I agree with Aunty Sally. Mine arrived together and one bullied the other constantly. I even posted a message here as I thought that two was a small number for there to be any bullying!

But after about 2 1/2 weeks it just stopped. And I'd just bought anti-pecking bit and gentian violet as well!! Oh well  :?

[superhoop]

Thanks Aunt Sally, this seems like the common sense approach. I've fenced of a portion of the run (the naughty corner) and put the worst of the bullies in there. The first day it was all of them except one.

In the morning when I collect the eggs, I let them all out together. It only takes a couple of minutes to single out the worst bullies.

Its been 9 days now and today, I only have 2 in the naughty corner, there is a little bit of bullying with the others but I just let them get on with it.

Things seem to be improving!