A little worried!

[heather454ss]

I got 2 new hens the other day due to mine being stolen but my concern is that now the 2 new hens won't hangout with all the others. They are loners. Should I be concerned or should I just give it more time?

 

[ChickenGirl3]

Give it more time... My EE stayed in the hen house all day without eating or drinking and she finally went down but she got pecked a lot.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

time... more like weeks

 

[heather454ss]

ok now I am noticing that my rooster is pecking at the new hens (like he is not accepting them). Is that something now I should be worried about?

 

[allieloveschickens]

How did you introduce the new girls? It is best to go slowly, keep them in a separate pen inside, the coop for a couple weeks, let them free range together and get used to each other before putting them all in the same coop. I introduced two EE hens, one was accepted, the other was attacked- they never accepted her, and then one morning they scalped her down to the bone- she recovered but I had to adopt her and the other EE out to a new home. Chickens are pretty territorial, it can be hard to get them to accept new birds. I hope that all goes well for you and they will all adjust soon.

 

[heather454ss]

I put the new hens in the coop after bring them home and let them get settled for at least 5-6 hours and let them out for a few hours to feed them and let them free range a lil bit. I have had them for 3 days now and the rooster only pecks at them when they first get in the coop in the evening and first thing in the morning. I am usually up for a few hours after they are put to bed and there is no fighting after that. Like I said during the day the 2 new hens just hangout together while the rest of my hens stick around the rooster. Its only the rooster who is pecking at the new hens. I will seperate them tomorrow evening and go from there. thanks

 

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

X2,, Keep an eye on them in case the bullying gets bad. If that happens, put the newbies in a good size cage, and put the cage in the run with the regulars, and then in the coop in the cage at nite. I usually have newbies in a cage that way for at least a few days before letting get together. The regulars check em all out for a while, get up on the cage etc. but when they get less curious, i let em out. Good luck........

mmaddie's mom :

time... more like weeks​