Introducing new chickens to existing ones

Post Reply
User avatar
labradors
Head Chicken
Posts: 1070
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:20 pm
x 1101

Introducing new chickens to existing ones

Post by labradors » Sun Jun 04, 2023 8:42 am

We bought a six-pack of RTL Red Sexlinks.

We only had two left from the six that we bought in 2020 (not very good going as they started off so well :()
We had hoped to find new homes for these two, but weren't prepared for them to go somewhere shady so we ended up keeping them.

One has looked a mess for months now. She has been pecked, lost a lot of feathers and doesn't lay eggs. The other lays an egg every day, but can be nasty. She pecked the other hens (sometimes badly), presumably because she sensed that they were sick, and they were isolated, but died. We thought these two were getting on ok as the pecked one began to re-grow her feathers.....

The new hens are in the big coop with access to the covered run, but "the two" were relocated to a new, smaller coop with an upstairs and downstairs. They were put in the chicken tractor during the day. However, I think that the heat, and change of circumstances stressed them and caused the bully to peck at the other one.

Any ideas on how to introduce them or whether I should?

Linda
0

User avatar
Killerbunny
Poultry Guru - total zen level
Posts: 7879
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
Answers: 4
Location: Brockville
x 10171

Re: Introducing new chickens to existing ones

Post by Killerbunny » Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:37 am

Reds are notorious for being difficult and bullies. I wouldn't try to introduce them especially on the new groups territory. Either keep them separate or cull them.
1
:iheartpto:
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
:turkey:

:bat:

User avatar
labradors
Head Chicken
Posts: 1070
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:20 pm
x 1101

Re: Introducing new chickens to existing ones

Post by labradors » Sun Jun 04, 2023 12:39 pm

Ouch! I'm sure you're right. Just don't want to face up to it.

Thanks,
Linda
0

User avatar
Killerbunny
Poultry Guru - total zen level
Posts: 7879
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
Answers: 4
Location: Brockville
x 10171

Re: Introducing new chickens to existing ones

Post by Killerbunny » Sun Jun 04, 2023 6:08 pm

@labradors it's your decision and always tricky. Try to decide if they are happy or not. I hear you on the shady homes. At least once I very much regretted selling some birds to a person when they would have been better off in the freezer.
3
:iheartpto:
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
:turkey:

:bat:

Post Reply

Return to “Behaviour”