Trying to integrate 13 wk hen into same age flock

Hi all. We need advice on introducing a hen to an existing same age flock. We had to replace a rooster and purchased a BO to join the mixed flock of Black star, Brahma, and two Red Stars. We let them free range for a few days, but having the space of the whole yard, the new hen was always chased off and they never really spent time together. We just set up a fenced area in the yard hoping that they can spend some time in closer quarters before we add her to the coop. One of the red Stars is picking on her pretty heavy. We're thinking of separating the red star from everyone to change her attitude. Any thoughts on that idea or any other tricks you've used ?

I have a mixed flock, and whenever I got new chickens to add , the newbies were always picked on for a few days. It is the process of the PECKING ORDER. Then it subsided and all would live in harmony. Adding one is a little tricky.. I always tried to add 2 or more at a time.. I would buy them at the swap meet. The 2 newbies would hang together and make a bond of friendship even though they were from different sellers. Let them chase each other around and only get CONCERNED If the new chicken gets hurt and there is injury.. If there is blood, then separate for sure. Provide hiding areas where new chicken can run to.. I was just reading about chicken eyesight in this forum.. It stated that chickens do not readily recognize other chickens until about 2 feet away. ( please note that recognize and see is not implied as the same. )


WISHING YOU BEST

Integrating one is the hardest integration.
Maybe leave the newbie confined to the coop/run to get acclimated to coop/run,
and let the others range for the day.
Then put one or two of the 'nicest' existing birds in with the newbie.
Keep newbie in wire crate in coop at night for her protection.
This might take several days/weeks of juggling before they can exist 24/7 without harm.
Just an idea, not sure what your coop/run setup is like.



Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from any bully birds.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

adding a couple is always best. I agree, give her a buddy, wait till that calms down, because even your nicest hen will be mean. Then add the pair back to the flock.

Here's an update. We've made a little progress in that we took the separation screen out of the run. We added objects for distraction and hiding places. It's been OK for a couple days, but yesterday they all ganged up on her and made her comb bleed a little. It's usually one hen that starts it and sometimes the others join in. Usually just chasing her off.
Should we remove the hen that's picking on her for a while? I'm beginning to lose hope that we'll ever get her into this flock.

Give it a try. When you remove the aggressor for a while.... and then bring her back in, she is the one looked down on by the rest. This may be an interesting experiment.