adding new chickens

[olchickendude]

I have 5 older hens and a few days ago got 2 younger ones. I thought that I had isolated them long enough, but was away from home all day yesterday. this morning I saw that one of new hens had damage on her back. I put them back in isolation. After they heal do you thank they will ever be accepted?

 

[ranchhand]

They will probably work it out over time. Treat the hen's wounds and then spray with some Blu-Kote to prevent further pecking at the wounds. You might consider a temporary barrier of wire between the groups when you can't be there.

But..... I just have to bring up the issue of quarantine. It's way too late now, but please consider it in the future.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12751

 

[first time farmer]

Yes they will be accepted. When i put my three new pullets in with my older hens there was some fighting but that is normal. The flock needs to establish the new pecking order...if there is no blood i wouldnt worry about it too much. What i did was put some chicken wire in half of my coop and had the new pullets in there for about 2 weeks to get every one introduced to a point. When i removed the chicken wire there was much less fighting than i have had before when i had not introduced through chicken wire.

Hope this helps

 

[olchickendude]

Yes there is blood. Where do you get the med?

 

[team_realtree]

How young were the new birds you introduced? If they were very young they should be isolated for some time so they can build up immunes to anything your birds have.

 

[olchickendude]

The two new pullets are 18 week old. they were in the same coop, with a divider for 3 days. when i put them togather it seemed that they were ok. then

2 days after that is when it happened.