Hiding from Introduced birds

[GardenDmpls]

Have three chickens 19 weeks old. A few days ago introduced 3- 18 month old hens. Now the younger chickens spend all day in the coop and won't come down to the pen. At first I thought it was the rain, as they usually stay inside when it rains, but today is a beautiful day, and they are still up there. I tried to shoo them down without success, although I guess I could with some help. Am worried about them dehydrating. If I put water up there, would that be helpful or just encouraging them to stay? Should I make them come down or just let them decide on their own?

 

[chfite]

I would be concerned as you are about dehydration. Put water inside and see if this won't work itself out.

Chris

 

[Den in Penn]

If they have already gone a few days they must have gotten to the water at some point. Leave it go a while longer.

 

[sourland]

When integrating flocks it is always a good idea to provide multiple feeding and watering stations so as to assure that the chickens do not become overly stressed. Stressed birds are far more vulnerable to disease.

 

[GardenDmpls]

This afternoon the RIR rooster came down and finally stood up to the hens, or at least he didn't run. The the others came down behind him to eat and drink. Then they went back up. Late in the afternoon, the Ancona came down to eat the fresh grass (I moved the coop over) and then stayed, but kept a little distance between herself and the hens. By tomorrow, I expect it will be better.

 

[CandJHens]

We just introduced 3 new hens into our remaining 2 hen coop. One of the 2 older hens is being quite bossy, but there does not seem to be any real damage being done. My three new girls are staying in the coop most of the time, but do come out around dusk. I'm just wondering if I should separate the bossy hen into our holding coop for a few days to bring her down a notch. Any thoughts on that?

 

[urbanchickchick]

I am wondering the same thing about our integration.One hen will not leave the new ones alone, and the poor things just stay "cooped up" in the small hen house all day. I took the two most dominant hens out and put them in a different pen today. Is that what you all would recommend? (I have 3 Americaunas. Introducing 2 more, plus one Russian Orloph.) Help! : )

 

[CandJHens]

Our flock seems to have settled in after a few trying weeks. We separated one of the older hens for some R&R, and she has gone back in longer the aggressive girl she was. The pullets we intrograted have settled in, not really running away any longer. They still get pecked a bit, but they stand their ground. The flock is not as it was when they were all rises as chicks together, but the are getting better. Just keep an eye on the aggressive ones.