[evie2]

My new hens have now been put with my original 5 and are being brutality hen pecked the 2 bantams hide under the big Blue (something, I've forgotten) and the hen that's doing the bullying is the smallest of the originals (2 x the size of the bantams though, who's comb and wattle haven't developed and she doesn't lay) the originals wont let them leave the nest box never mind the coop! 

They're moving to a bigger run (old veg plot) today and I'm hoping that will work. 

Any advice greatly appreciated

[PaulineM]

Hi
I am pretty new to chicken keeping but I found once I let my chickens free range the pecking decreased rapidly, they still peck the lowest ranking member but only at feed time.  Its very hardto watch tho 
Good luck!

[evie2]

Unfortunately with the fox and badger taking up residence they have to be in a run   the veg plot is about 20' x 15'  and their new enclosure is at least twice that if it doesn't settle down I'll just have to split it

[Jeanette]

Please don't split them up. They have to sort out the pecking order after a couple off weeks they will all be living in harmony. Have you got room to put in extra feeders and water stations. I find it handy to put in a couple of buckets on its side and then the new girls can escape into. Have some purple spray at hand so that if one gets cut you can cover it up.

[evie2]

I relented after witnessing a particularity evil bit of bullying   The bantams are tiny so they don't stand a chance and the big Blue who wasn't 100% when e she came to us is in a bad way, they're inside tonight and tomorrow they'll go into their own run