How do I know that my new chickens are accepted by my established flock?

[combsrael]

My parents gave me 2 buff orpingtons, RIR rooster and what I believe to be a white plymouth rock hen (she said it was a leghorn but she allegedly lays brown eggs) that are all 3 years ols or so. I added 4 golden comets last week and they recently started laying dark brown eggs. When I first introduced them I had to remove the white rock as she was head hen and was a little too viscious. Recently I added her back in because my rooster has seemed to accept the new ones as he is jumping on them. The eggs were looking normal until I put the white rock in. I have gotten an odd mishapen egg from one of my buff orpingtons and an extremely soft egg from one of the birds but don't know which one today. Could this be stress and when will I know that the new chickens have been accepted? As a side note they aren't ranging together yet eitber so my rooster gets a workout going from one side to the other between the groups.

 

[sumi]

In this situation I think stress is to blame for the odd eggs. They should settle down and sort out their pecking order over the next few days. How is your White Rock's behaviour now? Has it improved somewhat?

 

[combsrael]

She is still the head hen in the group and is aggressive, but she is getting better about chasing the new hens. I have developed a strategy where feeding is concerned. I feed them in the morning and since the established group won't let the new ones eat I let the existing flock eat and lay then let them out to range for an hour or two. This allows the new group to eat and lay in peace. It seems to be working as the established group seems to hang around the coop and wait for the new ones to come out. I think things are smoothing out. I am truly enjoying them and find them to be very entertaining. My white rock laid another soft egg today only it broke. I caught her eating it and got it cleaned up pretty quickly, I really hope this doesn't become a big issue.