Hen won't leave our 5 new chickens alone

[Sarah1728]

We have 5 new chickens that are about 10-12 weeks old that have been in the main hen house for about a week. They have always been out in the run with my other 8 hens with a wire fence seporating them untill they were all feathered out but have had close contact with each other. I started letting them out a few hours a day together and I would watch them to make sure they were not picked on. My other hens are totally ok with them but 1 is always going after them. She won't leave them alone in coop until the sun goes down and she can't find them. Should I seporate her for a while so she becomes the new hen? Or just let it play out. I haven't noticed any injuries or missing patches of feathers but just worried about them.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I would try separating her for a few days and see if it helps. Some hens take a while to accept newbies into their flock.

 

[aart]

A week may not have been long enough.
The aggressive bird is probably the lowest in the pecking order of the older group,
they always seem to be the worst at harassing new birds.
Either they are protecting their status or are just glad to finally have someone lower ranking to pick on.

How much space, in feet by feet, you do you have?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
Hiding places, multiple feed/water stations??

Tips on.....
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.

 

[Sarah1728]

A week may not have been long enough.
The aggressive bird is probably the lowest in the pecking order of the older group,
they always seem to be the worst at harassing new birds.
Either they are protecting their status or are just glad to finally have someone lower ranking to pick on.

How much space, in feet by feet, you do you have?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
Hiding places, multiple feed/water stations??

Tips on.....
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.

Everything seems to be okay now. They have a fenced-off area of our property that is about 60 ft by 25 ft and there are a total of 13 of them to share it. It seems like the one that was picking on them looks a little beat up so I'm thinking one of the new chicks stood their ground and now it's over. Haven't noticed any fighting with anyone for a few days