Help my 2 new chickens wont get along with my young hens

[ThinBluePony]

I'm very new to chickens. I got 5 young hens in September. They are about 20 weeks old now. I got an adult hens, and rooster from a friend. She had no issues with these 2 in her flock. I know I probably introduced them too quickly, but the younger hens are scared of the the new two. They spend most of the day in their coop, and not eating. It's almost like the other two won't let them eat. When the other two go in the coop, the 5 come out and finally eat and drink. My friend will take them back, buy I'd hate to do that to these two. Help

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Integration is a process that needs to be taken slowly. Here are some helpful articles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[ThinBluePony]

Thank you. I don't have a way to separate them. There has been no blood drawn as of yet but I just don't want anyone to starve or dehydrate. It has only been 2 days but I'm nervous. Horses are easier. Lol

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you. I don't have a way to separate them. There has been no blood drawn as of yet but I just don't want anyone to starve or dehydrate. It has only been 2 days but I'm nervous. Horses are easier. Lol

Make sure that you have more than one feeder and more than one waterer and that you have enough "clutter" so that a bird at one can't see the birds at the other.

 

[Mrs. K]

You probably did introduce them too quickly, but all is not lost. Try a couple of these tricks and see if it will help:

• Add some clutter to the run. Pallets, roosts, ladders, boxes, tables, chairs. More is better. It will look cluttered to you, but much more interesting to your hens. Anything that birds can get under, on top, behind of. You want it so that birds can get out of sight of each other. Right now, the only place out of sight seems to be the coop.
• Place multiple feed spots:
  • so that while eating at one spot, a bird can't see a bird eating at another. I would want at least three.
  • These just need to be a pile of feed, or in an old bowl, does not have to be a fancy feed station. If you have one of those, leave that, just add some others in hidden spots
• Put the Rooster/hen out into the yard. Leave the new ones in the run/coop. The old ones have the young ones buffaloed into staying in the coop, and it may take them a few days to get some confidence back.
• Pin-less peepers can really help in small coop/run situations https://www.ebay.com/itm/3132761461...MIpM-QtYOO9AIVa3xvBB1CQwA2EAQYBSABEgJyzfD_BwE
• And your pullets are going to close to laying and that generally makes this all disappear.

Mrs K

 

[CKfarm22]

I'm very new to chickens. I got 5 young hens in September. They are about 20 weeks old now. I got an adult hens, and rooster from a friend. She had no issues with these 2 in her flock. I know I probably introduced them too quickly, but the younger hens are scared of the the new two. They spend most of the day in their coop, and not eating. It's almost like the other two won't let them eat. When the other two go in the coop, the 5 come out and finally eat and drink. My friend will take them back, buy I'd hate to do that to these two. Help

Is there anyway you can let them free range around the yard while you watch them? I did this and it seemed to help a lot with integrating. Let all of them out to free range together.