Adding a new chicken??

[Sassy_Silkies]

SO I am attempting to add a new hen to my flock and I know of all the bullying(pecking order) that can go on. But I was thinking it would be the entire flock that had issues with her but it is the other way around. The new hen is a few months older but they are the same size. She doesn't pick on the smaller silkies but she does pick on my larger EEs and she is separated (flock is hiding in the corner) and the flock wont let her come near them because she pecks them. Will the new hen get over it or should I separate them longer. My silkie roo ( who is smaller then her) takes her back down to earth when she attacks one of my EEs but still they are mostly on opposite sides of the run. Wondering how roosting tonight will be...

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

SO I am attempting to add a new hen to my flock and I know of all the bullying(pecking order) that can go on. But I was thinking it would be the entire flock that had issues with her but it is the other way around. The new hen is a few months older but they are the same size. She doesn't pick on the smaller silkies but she does pick on my larger EEs and she is separated (flock is hiding in the corner) and the flock wont let her come near them because she pecks them. Will the new hen get over it or should I separate them longer. My silkie roo ( who is smaller then her) takes her back down to earth when she attacks one of my EEs but still they are mostly on opposite sides of the run. Wondering how roosting tonight will be...

It’s just the pecking order and by the sound of it she has taken over.
I would not separate her unless she is causing actual damage and is putting your other hens at risk.
I’d leave her in there. Its going to be a good 2-4 weeks before everyone gets back to normal.
Some people advise to keep your new hen separate from your original flock for at least a week before introducing them, but as you’ve already introduced them I’d keep her in there until they work out a pecking order!

 

[FishMtFarm]

Yes I agree. They are going to do the same thing now as they will later so might as well let them work out their ranks now so you don’t have to keep worrying about it.

 

[Sassy_Silkies]

It’s just the pecking order and by the sound of it she has taken over.
I would not separate her unless she is causing actual damage and is putting your other hens at risk.
I’d leave her in there. Its going to be a good 2-4 weeks before everyone gets back to normal.
Some people advise to keep your new hen separate from your original flock for at least a week before introducing them, but as you’ve already introduced them I’d keep her in there until they work out a pecking order!

The sad part to me is that my flock isn’t challenging her. They are ducking and running but she keeps pecking the only one who challenges her is my roo

 

[aart]

How old, in weeks or months, are all these birds?
Usually a single bird is the hardest integration,
unless new bird is older and more mature that the existing birds,
which is what it sounds like is going on here.

How big is coop and run, in feet by feet...pics would get you bonus info?

Here's some tips on......
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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, how old are the chickens? All the chickens. This sounds like the new bird is mature and the rest are still immature. Usually size isn't important but maturity is.

How many do you have? Are they all female except that Silkie, which I'd guess is a cockerel, not a rooster. And size of the run and size of the coop, in feet or meters, could be critical information. There are a lot of possible things you can do but which might be appropriate for you will depend on what you have to work with.

 

[Sassy_Silkies]

The lady told me she was 5-6 months. I am guessing all of mine are hens but not sure on the silkies they are hard to sex. They have hen behaviors and I just got rid of the other three that looked and behaved like cockerels. So I just have the one left. Mine are 4 months. EEs are same size but silkies are quite a bit smaller and she doesn’t peck them at all in fact she runs from them. My run is 18ft by 8 ft but they free range during the day. I have 8 bird 4 separate food bowls that I use for feed and two for treats. And 2 separate water bowls. There was no issue roosting last night as by round birds still want to sleep in a pile on the floor. New hen was on the roost. I hope she gets over it soon and realizes no one is challenging her top bird status

 

[Ridgerunner]

I suspected that type of age difference. Thanks for providing the info. Immature birds are generally afraid of more mature birds for a good reason. If they invade her personal space they are likely to get pecked. Generally the different aged groups form sub-flocks and stay apart until they mature. They generally don't roost together. Typically my pullets mature enough to join the flock about the time they start to lay, sometimes then but at least withing a few weeks. Until then I consider it a successful integration when no birds are being injured. They don't have to eat together or sleep together until they mature for it to be successful.

You could have something else working. Chickens are social animals, they like to be with other chickens. Since you have only one older one she likely wants to be with those EE's. But when she gets within personal space of them she wants to peck them. Their birdbrain does not always process logic the same way ours does.

To me it sounds like you are doing pretty well. No one is being injured. When those pullets start to lay you will have a fully merged flock. Good luck getting to that point.

 

[Sassy_Silkies]

I suspected that type of age difference. Thanks for providing the info. Immature birds are generally afraid of more mature birds for a good reason. If they invade her personal space they are likely to get pecked. Generally the different aged groups form sub-flocks and stay apart until they mature. They generally don't roost together. Typically my pullets mature enough to join the flock about the time they start to lay, sometimes then but at least withing a few weeks. Until then I consider it a successful integration when no birds are being injured. They don't have to eat together or sleep together until they mature for it to be successful.

You could have something else working. Chickens are social animals, they like to be with other chickens. Since you have only one older one she likely wants to be with those EE's. But when she gets within personal space of them she wants to peck them. Their birdbrain does not always process logic the same way ours does.

To me it sounds like you are doing pretty well. No one is being injured. When those pullets start to lay you will have a fully merged flock. Good luck getting to that point.

Thank you. She is not laying yet but a lot closer to age them my others. It’s just hard to see my babies I raised them from chicks and they are very spoiled