bullying of new hens

[jennybain]

Hi - I would like some advice please.....urgently. I have had 3 ISA crosses for a year now and a week ago added 2 16 week Speckledy's to the flock. I expected bullying of course, to a point......but I don't think things are getting better. Worse in fact.

I have kept the new birds seperate in their own hut and run and have let all the birds free range together. This wasn't so bad for the 1st few days but now they are being chased and attacked more than ever. One night I was late in shutting them in their seperate runs and found, to my surprise, that they had all found their way into the same hut to sleep. I sprayed vinegar solution, (as I read somewhere this works??) but as soon as daylight came the fighting started.

There seems to be 1 main bully and so I am thinking that maybe I should separate her for a few days (or week?) and put the other 4 in together. Or maybe I should do this but introduce 1 ISA at a time and when she is happy then introduce the next one etc...
I think the bullying has become worse because instead of the Speckledys being chased when they are crossing the paths of the ISAs, they are now seeking them out to pull their feathers out.

I am worried. Should I maybe just keep them all seperate until the Speckledys are older and bigger or would this just increase the divide?

[Flummery]

Try separating the bully. If the others get on ok you could re-introduce her a week or so later. That will knock her off the Top Hen perch and might help.

[jennybain]

Thanks,
I just need to hope that the other 2 aren't too aggressive then as they will be in the same run as the Speckledys all day while I am at work. I think they probably take their lead from the boss bird though.

Does anyone know if the vinegar spraying works? Or is it an old wives tale?

[MaureenHall]

Try using Anti-Peck spray too, that worked for me when I introduced the new ex-batts. They were all sleeping in the same coop at night but in separate areas during the day for the first few days.

[jennybain]

thanks. Might give that a go if things don't improve in the next day or two. I think I will definitely isolate the bully tonight though and keep her in another run during the day for the rest of the week.

[jennybain]

Ok, this didn't work. I isolated the bully and left the newbies in with the other 2 and today was a nightmare. They have been chased round and round the run and into the house and nestboxes getting feathers pulled out. The Speckledys are now too scared to drink or eat and so I have had to remove the ISAs again.

Maybe I should let them get older and bolder before trying again?

[Suechooks]

Ok, this didn't work. I isolated the bully and left the newbies in with the other 2 and today was a nightmare. They have been chased round and round the run and into the house and nestboxes getting feathers pulled out. The Speckledys are now too scared to drink or eat and so I have had to remove the ISAs again.

Maybe I should let them get older and bolder before trying again?

I was told some time ago that the new birds need to be about 20 weeks if they are being introduced to an existing adult flock.

[jennybain]

yes, this would probably make sense. I will wait another few weeks.