Adding new chickens (pullets) to existing flock

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Cassie3452

Cassie3452

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 24, 2013
31
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We had 3 red sex link hens and lost one due to an accident...two chickens are not producing enough, so hubby brought home two production red pullets...we only have one coop and the two adult hens are being aggressive to the new young ones...is this something that will work itself out? Any advice? The hens bought from the feed store had their beaks trimmed, so don't think they can peck out eyes...just hate to see the new girls get so harrassed.
Ginger
 
Can you put up a chicken wire divider to divide the run in half temporarily? That would allow them to all get to know each other without anyone getting hurt.
 
It will take some time for them to work out the pecking order. Eventually, they should work it out. It helps to have a few hiding spots for the hens at the bottom of the pecking order to find refuge in (a piece of plywood against a wall will do just fine). Don't worry, all chickens experience some harassment when they are first introduced to the flock. I hope this helps!!!
 
DavidKerk said:
It will take some time for them to work out the pecking order. Eventually, they should work it out. It helps to have a few hiding spots for the hens at the bottom of the pecking order to find refuge in (a piece of plywood against a wall will do just fine). Don't worry, all chickens experience some harassment when they are first introduced to the flock. I hope this helps!!!
Click to expand...
I was going to say this too.

Hope they start to get along soon!
D.gif
 
thanks to everyone! This is the start of day 3....only harrassment is inside the coop and over food...I throw out extra scratch on the ground to them while the older hens are out in the pasture browsing...they are coming out for just a bit and then run back in...think it will all work out....don't want them so stressed they get ill....no, the coop isn't large enough to separate as we started with just 3 hens - the 4 will give us more eggs than we can use and we give some out to family and friends...just wanted assurance that the harassment wouldn't last forever! :)
Ginger
smile.png
 
and upon further inspection - they may not be production hens...I see they have a black tail...maybe a buckeye...then they could just be mixed breed but they are identical...dark red with black tail feathers - very young, so hard to tell..:) Remarks on buckeye say lowest on pecking order, so they may always be submissive to my red sexlink girls.
 
I have introduced 3 new pullets to an exsisting 3 hens. I kept them apart for 10 days. Everything went well except the old layers won't let the new pullets roost in the coop. So the pullets have to sleep in the nesting boxes. Any suggestions or will this work itself out? I have another coop inside the run but I have been keeping it closed in the hope they will all roost in the new coop.
 
winthepin said:
I have introduced 3 new pullets to an exsisting 3 hens. I kept them apart for 10 days. Everything went well except the old layers won't let the new pullets roost in the coop. So the pullets have to sleep in the nesting boxes. Any suggestions or will this work itself out? I have another coop inside the run but I have been keeping it closed in the hope they will all roost in the new coop.
Click to expand...
Add another roost.
 

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