Aggressive new hen

[Clannad]

i know hens need to establish a pecking order but this is worrying me. I origionally had two hens, an Ameracuana and Rhode Island Red. The two new hens are Jersy giant x's and bigger than the first two hens. When I pit them in the coop (i don't have room to keep them seperate) the rhode isaland red didn't care. The Ameracuana kinda pecked at one of the new ones but then the new one attacked her and took a mouthful of feathers. I went out to check on them a minute ago and the new one was going after my ameracuana for no reason. I'm worried that she's going to hyrt her and my ameracuana is my baby. I don't want her fetting hurt. Is it normal for them to behave like this?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The instinct of the chicken is to chase out intruders or claim a territory, either of these instincts is the reason adult chickens put together will fight, if the ones being attacked can't get away they can and will kill each other or at least try. So that's why they should be housed next to each other with the hopes they will eventually forget the new ones are intruders. I would recommend you separate them and start over. Introducing chicks is easier because they are thought of as part of the flock. Good luck

 

[Clannad]

Went out to check them to tonight and no one has been kicked out of the coop, so that's a good sign.