HELP!!! Adding one new pullet to a small group of other young chickens!!!

[towen91]

Ok so I am new to raising chickens. I bought 4 SL wyandottes a little over a month ago. Unfortunately, we did lose one of them in the first week. The other 3 are doing very well. They are eating, drinking, free ranging, and GROWING very well. We learned (thanks to you fine folks her at BYC) that one of my 3 girls, is actually a boy. So in order to try to even things out a bit, (plus I our birds are named after the raptors from Jurassic world) I purchased 1 pullet to replace the one we had lost. This new girl is around the same age, and the same size as our other 3. However when I came home today, I couldn't only find Blue, Charlie, and Delta (original 3). I was freaking out because I thought that Echo (new girl) had somehow gotten away. I eventually found her in the very back of one of the 2 coops I have for my small flock. I let the other 3 out to free range and made sure that Echo had plenty of food and water. She is eating and drinking, but she just seems scared to death. Last night when we had brought her home, the other birds were already asleep in the coop i have inside of the run. I put the new girl in the larger coop I have attached to the run built inside of my shed, and closed the door. This morning when I went outside, I opened the door, and Blue, Charlie, and Delta came running in. The of course noticed Echo, and Blue (the roo) ran straight up to her, but there was no fighting. All 4 of them eventually started eating together, so I left to go to class, assuming everything was good. I know that there will be some readjusting in the picking order, but I just wanted to make sure that everything is ok.

So here is the situation all broke down.

Blue (roo 11 weeks old)
Charlie
Delta (Pullets 11 weeks old)
^^^^^^ Original 3 birds

Echo (new pullet about the same age might be a few weeks older)

Echo is by herself now, and wont come out of the coop, but she is eating and drinking.

All 4 birds were together for a bit earlier today, eating together.

Any ideas on what I should do?

I have read a ton about adding new birds to an already established flock, but haven't seen anything in particular about adding a new pullet to a small flock of equally young birds.

Thanks is advance for all of the great advice and info that I know I will be getting from you wonderful folks.

Taylor

 

[Den in Penn]

A single hen or pullet being introduced to a flock is one of the toughest introductions to do. Its her against all the others. If you can just give her own space for a week where they can all see each other with out mingling. After a week put one of the others in with her so they can form a unit. After another week you can add another hen to the mix. Or with you small number of chickens you can try letting them mix with the rest.

 

[towen91]

A single hen or pullet being introduced to a flock is one of the toughest introductions to do.  Its her against all the others.  If you can just give her own space for a week where they can all see each other with out mingling.  After a week put one of the others in with her so they can form a unit.  After another week you can add another hen to the mix.  Or with you small number of chickens you can try letting them mix with the rest.

At the moment all of the originals are just ignoring her. She is just hiding in the back of the coop. They have the option to mingle but arnt. Is this ok as long as there is no fighting? Or should I keep them separate. I wasn't aware that at this age new introductions were still so challenging. Who knew chickens were such complex creatures lol.