Concerned about hen

[Cheesman]

Hello! I currently have a hen, who I've had for 4 years. She was part of a trio (rooster & another hen) who both passed away 2.5 years ago. My hen, Dawn, has been alone for 2.5 years now. Two weeks ago we introduced 2 new & younger chickens to her. One of the new hens(Jolene) and Dawn are going at it (no blood yet) and the other youngest new chicken(Loretta) is just afraid and scatters away. Dawn has always been very docile and a very easy hen, until now. She is visibly upset and has begun pecking even at me. Is it possible she has been alone for so long that she is not interested in belonging to a trio again?
Also, should I wait any longer to see if behaviors get better or should I return new chickens and let Dawn go back to being alone(which she appeared not to have an issue with)? Thanks in advance

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Possibly but chickens are always better off in a flock. The more the merrier.
I think they are just working out the pecking order. How much space do they have?
What the birds names are doesn't mean anything to me. What breeds are they?

 

[Cheesman]

I'm not 100% on their breeds... the oldest(about 4 yrs old) is definitely a Rhode Island White. The youngest(3-4 months) seems to be a Welsummer. But the third, which is the most aggressive, I don't really know. She is white with black/brown feathers. Although she is younger(4-5 months) than the Rhode Island, they are almost the same size.

 

[Mrs. K]

What you need in your set ups is places where birds can get away from each other and have a bit of peace to themselves. The way you get this is you add a lot of stuff to your run. It should be kind of an obstacle course. Too many runs that I see on here, are a wide open space where as a bird can see every other bird 100% of the time.

Add ladders, chairs, boxes, pieces of plywood, saw horses, anything a bird can get behind, or on top or underneath. This lets them work out relationships on their terms, and get away when they need too.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Two weeks ago we introduced 2 new & younger chickens to her.

How exactly did you introduce them?

How much space do they have?

This^^^ please.
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.


Here's some tips about......
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Cheesman]

What you need in your set ups is places where birds can get away from each other and have a bit of peace to themselves. The way you get this is you add a lot of stuff to your run. It should be kind of an obstacle course. Too many runs that I see on here, are a wide open space where as a bird can see every other bird 100% of the time.

Add ladders, chairs, boxes, pieces of plywood, saw horses, anything a bird can get behind, or on top or underneath. This lets them work out relationships on their terms, and get away when they need too.

Mrs K

Thank you so much for your advice. I am in the process of adding some stuff for them. The oldest hen free ranges a few hours a day, but we haven't let the younger ones out yet. However, we bought them a small cage-like coop to let them get used to the yard before we let them free range. This also allows the oldest some time to herself. Would love to hear your thoughts on this as well. Thanks!

 

[Cheesman]

How exactly did you introduce them?

This^^^ please.
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.


Here's some tips about......
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

I brought home the 2 chickens and kept them separated from older hen(next to and in sight) for 2 weeks. I placed 2 younger ones in coop shortly after "bed time" and they've been in the same coop/run for one week. I have placed two separate feeding & water stations.
The run is 8x4(& 6ft tall) the coop is 4x4 with 4 separate nesting boxes.