Hens won’t allow new chickens to eat

[prplehailstorm]

I have 5 pullets about 7 months old. All five are laying. We just got 2 more pullets around 12-13 weeks old.

We did the see but not touch thing with the new girls and gave them a cage of their own so the older girls get used to the idea of new friends. After that we put them in the coop at night like recommended.

the problem is the older hens won’t allow the new ones to eat or drink. Every time they try they get chased away. I found the one you would consider “alpha” chicken and removed her to see if the bullying reduced. While they don’t actively try and attack the new girls they still are not having them by their food or water. I read that some fighting was normal but I worry that the older girls won’t accept them and they might get dehydrated. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[wyoDreamer]

Do you have enough room to put another bowl of feed and water source out for the new girls. The older chickens should eventually "accept" them, but they won't be able to effectively guard 2 different food sources at the same time so the newbies should be able to eat and drink.

 

[prplehailstorm]

Do you have enough room to put another bowl of feed and water source out for the new girls. The older chickens should eventually "accept" them, but they won't be able to effectively guard 2 different food sources at the same time so the newbies should be able to eat and drink.

I could do that.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's pretty common behavior when you integrate less mature chickens with more mature chickens. It can even happen if they are the same age. A standard recommendation is to provide widely separated food and water stations when integrating.

 

[prplehailstorm]

That's pretty common behavior when you integrate less mature chickens with more mature chickens. It can even happen if they are the same age. A standard recommendation is to provide widely separated food and water stations when integrating.

Got it! I hadn’t heard of them keeping the new ones away from food or water so when I saw it i got pretty nervous. Especially with the heat wave in California. They like to hide on the top on the coop so I’ll put some hanging water/ food containers up there. Thanks!

 

[Sams Backyard Flock]

Hello California, this heat wave we’re having is horrible. I’m in the north. How about you?

 

[rosemarythyme]

With multiple feeders, also helps if you position them so that they're behind some obstacles, so other birds can't easily see if someone is there eating. Just another thing to try and reduce resource guarding.

 

[aart]

We did the see but not touch thing with the new girls and gave them a cage of their own so the older girls get used to the idea of new friends.

How long did you do this?
Were they 'see no touch' 24/7?

After that we put them in the coop at night like recommended.

Eh, that often backfires.

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


Here's 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/

 

[1DLuna]

Question, I purchased 2 new hens and I’m trying to introduce them to my 3 other hens. I just sort of threw them all together as I have a big enough yard for them to run away if they needed to. The 3 other hens won’t allow the new 2 hens to go into the hen house at night.. should I wait until they allow them or should I physically put the other 2 at night in the hen house? Picture of my ladies and the coop… I’m trying to figure out if my coop is too small and should I go purchase maybe a small coop to attach or is it normal for new hens not to be allowed in the hen house until they are accepted? New hen ma and searching for advice!

 

[aart]

Question, I purchased 2 new hens and I’m trying to introduce them to my 3 other hens. I just sort of threw them all together as I have a big enough yard for them to run away if they needed to. The 3 other hens won’t allow the new 2 hens to go into the hen house at night.. should I wait until they allow them or should I physically put the other 2 at night in the hen house? Picture of my ladies and the coop… I’m trying to figure out if my coop is too small and should I go purchase maybe a small coop to attach or is it normal for new hens not to be allowed in the hen house until they are accepted? New hen ma and searching for advice!

Answered here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-help-with-chicken-introduction-or-coop-to-small.1611763/