Introducing a new 12 week old chicken to my flock

[madison528]

I just brought home a new hen she is 12 weeks old and I currently have three laying hens that are over a year old. Any advice/tips/recommendations on what I should or shouldn’t be doing would be so helpful. I technically have two coops, one isn’t fully set up but will work, and if need be I can separate them completely but my current flock has already gone after my new hen and I want to make sure this doesn’t keep happening. Thank you!!

 

[aart]

It may be too late but:
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Adding a single bird can be the hardest integration.
Here's some tips on that:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

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.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

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 copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, 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'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[madison528]

It may be too late but:
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Adding a single bird can be the hardest integration.
Here's some tips on that:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/


Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

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.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

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 copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, 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'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This is so helpful thank you so so much!!!

 

[Mrs. K]

Instead of introducing her to 3 established birds. Divide and conquer. Take the middle bird, and put her with the chick. Now there probably will be a dust up, or two or three, a squirt gun can break it up. But one against one, will generally settle fairly quickly. WAIT a week after it does.

Then add the pair to the pair. Probably a bit of a dust up, but should not be too bad. Sometimes though you get a biddy that is heartless. AND they others will follow her lead. Pull that girl out by herself for a week and see.

If all else fails try pin-less peepers.

Mrs K