Last night we decided to take the plunge and give the two sets of girls some time together before bedtime. We timed it to give them half an hour together then quarter of an hour to calm down on their own sides before going to bed.
I opened the gate and sprinkled some corn around to encourage the bantys out and keep everyone occupied. I sat on the wooden block with the water spray in one hand and the camera in the other.
At first they were all more interested in the corn but once the bantys came out Bluebell went for them pretty aggressively and I sprayed her with water. Amber, the smallest of the bantys, retreated to the coop on their side. At least she feels safe in her own coop. I was surprised that Honey was the bravest and came back out into the big girls side.
The behaviour of the three big girls was different according to their place in the pecking order. Bluebell, bottom girl, just wanted to attack, getting in pecks where she could. Dotty who is middle girl was next to make her move and did it all with display. She stood up tall and raised her neck feathers (if only she knew how ridiculous she looked with half her neck feathers missing!) and tried to intimidate by show. Pepper who is top girl just walked straight up to Honey and froze like a statue giving her a long stare. Once the stare was broken she gave a quick peck.
A little corn to entice the bantys out
Getting closer with the distraction of the corn
Honey bravely walks past Bluebell and Dotty
Bluebell is soon in pursuit
Pepper gives Honey a long stare
Honey voiced her alarm and Amber came out of the coop to check on her. I found it all very hard to watch and intervened with the spray but my husband said that I should leave them to it a bit as it’s natural and they need to do this. I am too soft though and find it really hard to see the aggression. I decided this was enough for tonight and as the bantys returned to their side I shut the gate.
The big girls settled next to bantys on the other side of the wire and commenced to have a massive preening session. The bantys joined in with a bit of preening on their side. I am not sure if the preening was showmanship or because I had sprayed them with water, or perhaps a bit of both.
Pepper preening and one of the bantys preening in the background
Pepper preens while Bluebell keeps a close eye on the bantys
All the big girls preen
Bluebell can’t take her eyes off the bantys
Bluebell continued to watch the bantys every move even when Pepper and Dotty were settling on the coop roof ready for bed. I think if it was just the bantys and the dominiques, they would very soon be ready to integrate without too much trouble but it’s Bluebell who is going to be the problem. Bottom girl is determined to hold her position and so my most docile girl has turned into the most aggressive. I think this is going to take some time but we will keep on with this in the evenings for now.
Once the coop door started to close I lifted the big girls in and by then the bantys had gone into their coop so I closed the door. We have now got the first session behind us and will see what tomorrow brings. I guess it wasn’t too bad really!
Click here to see the history of my flock.
It would happen whoever was bottom hen … you’re right, they’re determined to no longer be bottom when new girls arrive. It’s hard to watch, but they understand each other xx
I know you are right but it is hard to watch. I know my husband thinks I should let them get on with it a bit more, I will try to restrain myself a bit more tonight. They have to go through this sooner or later.
Well that’s it then no going back now ! You are right about the way they react .Clover my top girl just gives an eye ball to eye ball stare and knows she will win every time .She also knows she has respect and does not need to show aggression . Mine have got on so well but just this morning Rosie was pecking away at the ground and she looked up and saw Annie …ran at a great pace up to her and gave her one peck and walked away …Why?
I just find it most interesting.
It is funny watching that super stare. So much conveyed in one hard unwavering stare. I prefer to see that to the pecks though. I know what you mean about the run and quick peck, you are left wondering what that is all about.
“…my husband said that I should leave them to it a bit as it’s natural and they need to do this.”
I 100% agree with this statement. Not only is this behaviour normal, but it is essential that they behave like this to establish the new hierarchy. If you keep intervening you will only be dragging it out, so you only really need to get involved if the bullying gets severe.
I also agree with the above comment that this would happen regardless of the bottom hen. You keep saying things like “Bluebell is so gentle she wouldn’t hurt a fly” and then “Bluebell has turned into the most aggressive hen” but realistically this isn’t what’s happening at all: Bluebell was at the bottom of the pecking order and had no-one below her to attack, and now the order is undecided and she is showing them that she is above them. The thing is, whilst it might look pretty brutal and mean, the chickens can’t talk to each other to decide who’s boss so they have to do it with displays of aggression.
Another thing to remember is that you can’t be lurking with the spray 24 hours a day, and once you do leave them alone together they are just going to carry on like this anyway.
Anyway, it’s good to see that you’re beginning to integrate them, and I think it looks like things are actually going pretty well.
I know all this is true. I had forgotten that we were going out tonight as it’s our wedding anniversary tomorrow. By the time we got back in both sets of girls were ready for bed, so a reprieve tonight.
We will continue tomorrow night. I know I have to let them sort it out but it is hard. This morning Amber had a few loose feathers from last night which have fallen out today. This was what sent her back to her coop last night. Tonight though, she was the last one in.
We will see what tomorrow brings!
Looks like your husband got priority over the chickens for once?
😉
Ha Ha. We had a really nice fillet steak. We walked to the old bell and can you believe it hailed on the way, it’s May for goodness sake!