Hen not going to coop

[TRISHA CANZLER]

I added three hens to my flock this last week and one of the hens did not go into the coop but was outside under my deck, she did join the flock back inside the coop tonight but should I be worried that she's being picked on and doesn't want to be inside the coop

 

[sourland]

I would monitor their evening behavior to determine whether or not this is happening.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!
Adding new birds causes stress and pecking order issues.
Lots of space and roost length should help.

 

[TRISHA CANZLER]

Thanks, she was in there last night. Adding new hens is causing me a lot of stress too! My hens are so mean to the new ones.

 

[aart]

My hens are so mean to the new ones.

That's just they way they are...perfectly normal, the pecking order.

This might explain the behavior and offer some tips to reduce the conflict.

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.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[TRISHA CANZLER]

Thanks for all that great info... the problem is the guy I bought the chickens from told me to lock them in the coop for 3 days and then they'll be fine... Once they establish their pecking order. I put them in the coop but my hens were so mean I opened the coop up after 48 hours to let the new hens get some room to run away from the established flock because they seem so traumatised!! It's been a week now and my hens are still pecking at the new hens and out of the three, one is integrating into the flock but the other two, one is semi okay and the other one is completely afraid.... I usually bring the hands a snack at night when I close up the coop, and all of the hens will eat the treat except for her, she won't even look at it! I wonder if I should ask her owner if I can trade her in for a different hen if she is that traumatized! Or do I just need to be patient until eventually establish herself into my current flock? My hens are my pets, I treat them like their my family, so I don't like seeing her being so distraught!

 

[aart]

The 3 day thing is more to acclimate a bird(s) to a new coop, so they'll come back there to roost, it really has nothing to do with the pecking order.

Be patient.
It would be way worse to bring a totally new single bird into the situation.
Lots of space, feed/water stations, hiding places(as described above).
Spread the treats far and wide, just like the feed/water stations, so they can't be guarded.

There's always a low hen, they know their place, and are fine with it as long as they have space to get away from their superiors. Try not to anthropomorphize, their social order is much different than ours.

Keeping chickens can be stressful, especially the first year, until you learn their behaviors and have your housing, and outlook, set up to accommodate it.