Adding new girls

[spicewood chick]

Hi
I have 5 current girls, 2 being silkies with one being older and the dominant of my coop. All 5 of my girls get along so well and dont fight with each other but I recently had to put down one of my young girls with a scissor beak/broken jaw, not sure which one it was and the breeder that i got her from gave me two new 5-6 month old big hens to replace my one and i have them in a cage in the shop together for a few days so they can get used to me but i attempted to put the red in the coop this morning with my other girls because she seemed sweet and the new Americana was being a little aggressive with her and my silkie attacked her first which shocked me and then all the others attacked her as well. I instantly took her back out. Is this normal and will they hurt her or should I just leave them be and they will get used to each other??? I also dont want her to fight back and hurt one of my little silkies HELP

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Try putting her cage beside the coop for a couple days.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would suggest that you never put just one bird in. Put them both in. a single newbie is a target for all. 2 newbies get to share the hate attacks.

 

[spicewood chick]

My breeder says to put them both in together and create a distraction and they will eventually stop attacking. I can put veggies in which my girls love but I'm worried someone is going to get hurt and if these girls turn on them and go after my little silkies or my smaller little bantam white Cochin but both of these little girls got a beak full of red feathers so maybe they need to do this since they are smaller?

 

[spicewood chick]

Try putting her cage beside the coop for a couple days.

I will try that if we stop flooding for a little while here in Austin

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I will try that if we stop flooding for a little while here in Austin

Oh. Forgot.

 

[aart]

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