Flock will not accept one new chicken

[Nicci0110]

I bought a zombie mix hen almost 2 months ago. She is old. She only lays one to 2 eggs a week but I got her from some kids at a flea market. She must have some silky in her. She obviously came from a farm because she's very intelligent. She's very wise. I don't know how to explain it. BUT my chickens will not accept her. She has been next to them for going on a month now with only hardware cloth separating them. I have let them free range together and she doesn't start anything but she doesn't back down. I have tried putting her in the run with them and monitoring it but they immediately gang up on her. I have been bringing her inside to sleep in a tote for 2 months now. I don't mind but I feel terrible that she has no flock. Any suggestions? They just accepted 6 new babies a few weeks ago. So I have 11 integrated and my poor outsider. I always separate my rooster when integrating also. This is moana.

 

[sourland]

Frequently the rooster in a flock will make the hens 'behave' when a new bird is introduced.

 

[Nicci0110]

Frequently the rooster in a flock will make the hens 'behave' when a new bird is introduced.

Mine doesn't. He causes all the problems so i separate him and added him once they are settled.

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes you will get a bird that just won't fit in the flock. If you pull that bird, and the rest of the flock is happy without her, I would let that bird go.

 

[Nicci0110]

Sometimes you will get a bird that just won't fit in the flock. If you pull that bird, and the rest of the flock is happy without her, I would let that bird go.

I may see about moving one with her or getting her a friend. I definitely don't want to lose her. She is such a good sweet girl

 

[ChookaPete]

I may see about moving one with her or getting her a friend. I definitely don't want to lose her. She is such a good sweet girl

I suggest getting her a friend to keep her company. And in future, always introduce at least two new chickens to a flock, not just one on their own.


Back in December I bought two pullets who stuck to each other like glue and kept away from the flock, but over the last two months have now integrated with the flock - though they still stick together. I call them 'The Little Rascals'.

I also just a few days ago bought three pullets of a different breed - they are 'The Little Musketeers' and stick with each other during the day in the backyard while the rest are in the front yard, but already they are roosting with everyone at night.


It is tricky when one chicken seems to be outcast from the rest. The reason I bought the two pullets in December was to keep my Leghorn Chamomile company, but as of yet that has not worked. The three pullets I bought last week are another attempt to bond with Chamomile, but they are still settling in.

Somehow though Chamomile seems okay - she joins the flock later in the day and forages in the front yard, even though a little distant for my liking.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I bought a zombie mix hen almost 2 months ago. She is old. She only lays one to 2 eggs a week but I got her from some kids at a flea market. She must have some silky in her. She obviously came from a farm because she's very intelligent. She's very wise. I don't know how to explain it. BUT my chickens will not accept her. She has been next to them for going on a month now with only hardware cloth separating them. I have let them free range together and she doesn't start anything but she doesn't back down. I have tried putting her in the run with them and monitoring it but they immediately gang up on her. I have been bringing her inside to sleep in a tote for 2 months now. I don't mind but I feel terrible that she has no flock. Any suggestions? They just accepted 6 new babies a few weeks ago. So I have 11 integrated and my poor outsider. I always separate my rooster when integrating also. This is moana.View attachment 4068676

She is very striking-looking, isn't she? I've never seen one like her. Suppose you pick a bird from the middle of the pecking order and put it in with this one and see if they can get along. Then if that works, add another one. Give that some time and once they are all getting along, try integrating the three of them together. Often, just putting one hen into a flock makes that bird everybody's target. But if you can put her in with a group, she'll at least have that group for backup, so to speak. She won't be totally on her own, one vs the entire flock.

 

[Nicci0110]

She is very striking-looking, isn't she? I've never seen one like her. Suppose you pick a bird from the middle of the pecking order and put it in with this one and see if they can get along. Then if that works, add another one. Give that some time and once they are all getting along, try integrating the three of them together. Often, just putting one hen into a flock makes that bird everybody's target. But if you can put her in with a group, she'll at least have that group for backup, so to speak. She won't be totally on her own, one vs the entire flock.

This is a great idea and yes she is so neat looking!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This is a great idea and yes she is so neat looking!

Good luck and please keep us posted!

 

[newchickmomma3-2025]

This is a great idea and yes she is so neat looking!

So, how did this work out if you tried it? Did you ever get Moana integrated?