HELP MY CHUCKS ARE TRYING TO KILL MY NEW GIRLS !!

[MAX]

hi i stumbled across this web site while trying to find some advice. i have recently tried to introduce 3 ex battery hens to my original 2 girls with out much success. the 3 ex batts get on great & dont attack my other 2 but they on the other hand are being really aggresive & drawing blood at every opportunity. it has been 6 days now and they have only managed to spend a few hours each day together before i have to separate them for fear of a death on my hands ! at the moment i have separated the "chicken garden " in 2 so they can see each other but not get together although my original 2 try their hardest to get a peck when ever the others are too close to the fence. any advice would be greatly appreciated, please

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[wendy]

That dam pecking order again !!
I would totally seperate during the daytime, but they are close enough to see and be near each other.
Of a night once they are settled put the new girls in with the 'older' ones. I think it took a couple of weeks for my lot to get on.
Wendy

[AnnaB]

Hi Max
I too have this problem I inherited two girls 2 years ago and last April rescued 2 new ones. I could not get them to mix so therefore I have kept them apart. One of the new ones had to be humanely dispatched the other week so I now have a lone one and the other 2.
I am getting 5 in July and this time I know how to get them together.
I was over protective with the last two and this time I will have to step back.
I have been told to spray them all with a vinegar and water solution and put them all in the coop at night. The next morning they all smell the same and the fighting/pecking lessons.

[MAX]

thanks for the good advice, i too tried the water & vinegar thing but it didnt make any difference. my original 2 seem to work as a team ambushing & attacking the others to such an extent that the ex batts have some very nasty wounds. they are separated now although they can still see each other & i think i am going to keep them like this until they get their feathers back as they are quite bald. unfortunately i work nights so am not at home to put them all to bed together & oversee it very often. i have decided to give the ex batts a month to build up their strength & fitness & will then try to introduce them all over again. thank you again for your help

[Richard]

Hi Max,

Certainly sounds a good idea.
I must admit I've never had that bigger problem. Guess it's the old 'some and some'.
I reckon six weeks is a good guideline.

I'm sure that following the advice, they will settle down. Just like cats really, it takes time, but once done - all's well.

Cheers, Richard