Help chicken intros gone wrong...

[ChickenCraze]

I hope some one can help give me some direction. I'm new to chickens. I have two standard chickens who are just over ten weeks. We just introduced a third 2 yr. old hen. I was hoping we can introduce her with ease as she is a bantam so she is the same size as our chickens are right now. They were separated side by side in the coop for the first 24 hrs. then introduced. They've been roosting at night with out problems, but the new one is a bully and is keeping the other two from the food. I've also been letting them free-range for an hour or so at dusk when I'm there to supervise. The two younger ones keep a distance from the new one during that time. They seem totally affraid of her and try to escape whenever I open the coop. I finally sparated them again because it seemed like the two weren't able to get to the food. I've got the new one in one half of the pen with a box she can retreat to as a temp. hen house. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Well...to start you should quarantine a new bird for at least 3 weeks until they get used to what ever germs you have at your place.
Then section off a section of the coop so that the original 2 can see the new one, but not get to her. Then try putting them all together on the roost after dark after a couple more weeks. It's not an instantaneous thing. It takes time for everyone to get along.
Separate water and food dishes might help too.

 

[ChickenCraze]

Thanks I had not heard of the quarantine period. They seem to be doing just fine separated by chicken wire and I've give them each their own food and water.