Help!

[SuffolkGirl]

Hi

so I recently just got three chickens. All doing great. All getting on lovely. Their friendly towards me and love a fuss which is fab!
I introduced two chickens yesterday from my sisters (they were originally my mums but my sister has had them for over a year as mum had to move) and I’ve never met chickens like it.
They are literally petrified of me. We have a large ramp that goes up to the hatch to get out and the new hens have sussed it once you usher them to the bottom. These two won’t even let you go near to usher them let alone just get anywhere near in general. Before I knew it one was flying around literally screaming a deafening noise having a complete meltdown. I managed to catch her and pop her out the hole. The other had curled herself up as far under the ramp as possible so she wasn’t even visable I actually thought she had died there and then. Once I went to pick her up the same happened. Mental.
I’ve had chickens all my life and you get the odd skittish ones but generally ok. But I lived at home when mum had these two and they were always fine. Now since they’ve come from my sisters they’re just !
I am worried that they’re going to get so stressed they will just drop down dead. My other three are now becoming nervous of me after one day because of the racket they make when you go near (they are all getting on well within each other btw no fights or pecking at all). I don’t know what to do. They’re petrified and I don’t know how to help.

 

[sourland]

Chickens hate change. They are freaking because they have not adjusted to their new home. Give them time. They should mellow out.

 

[aart]

Did you just toss them in there?
Doesn't matter if you 'knew' them before, they are in a new place and stressed.

How big is your coop and run, in meters by meters?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.


Meanwhile here are some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[SuffolkGirl]

Did you just toss them in there?
Doesn't matter if you 'knew' them before, they are in a new place and stressed.

How big is your coop and run, in meters by meters?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.


Meanwhile here are some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

no I didn’t just ‘toss them in there’. I have no problem with them and my other chickens they’re all getting along well.They’re just very nervous of me that’s all I was getting at. I’ve got two water feeders two feed trays in and out if needs be. The run is 10m x 10 and they live in the barn in an enclosed off area with three perches and 8 nest boxes so they have as much space inside as out.