fighting hens

[graciesmum]

I had 3 hens off of a friend, he was left with 2 hens and a cockerel, he found a home for the cockerel, so today I got the other 2, I was told they would remember each other and after the usual pecking order would settle, so my question, how long will this take?

 

[Johnn]

It will take them a week or two to sort it out. Once a hen has been away from the rest of the flock for a certain amount of time the pecking order will readjust. I wouldn't worry too much as long as no one is seriously hurt.

 

[graciesmum]

The problem is they wont let the new 2 hens into the house so I have had to put q box in the run for them, I don't like to leave them out at night as there is a fox that visits occasionally

 

[Johnn]

The problem is they wont let the new 2 hens into the house so I have had to put q box in the run for them, I don't like to leave them out at night as there is a fox that visits occasionally

Put them inside the shed when its dark, the old hens wont bother them in the dark.

 

[graciesmum]

The problem with that is that I don't let them out till 8am and don't want to be confronted with q blood bath, it's catch 22 lol