how do you introduce two hens ?

[renaissance]

hi guys im new to this so here goes.

ive had my first hen for just over a year now and shes a bantam cross normal egg laying breed if that makes sense. a week ago i purchased an 8week old polish bantam hen and im trying to get them to be friends (so to speak). how would i go about doing this ? can you introduce a fancy and normal chicken together? my current hen keeps chasing her whenever she gets close and pecks her is this normal? how do i know when its gone to far? oh and i dont have a coop or a run atm they are in to seperate cages next to each other as they live indoors they are house chickens. please i need help and want them to get along and to be let out into the home together

 

[Birdlife99]

Hello
I have seen this before and I suggest to buy another hen so you will have 3, because it is ALOT easier to introduce 2 hens to an existing one. This has worked in a similar situation for me too. Then you just have to put them in an open area the first time they meet, and then they should be ok. I hope this helps

 

[renaissance]

well last year i raised a chicken from an egg and it turned out to be a cockeral so i got my hen as a way of calming him down. they got on and wwere inseperable just after a week so i know for certain you can introduce one on one. the cockeral went to a farm because he was to noisy. my current hen has been on her own for about a year so thats why i got her a friend a polish bantam. i dont want a 3rd chicken im happy with two. remember i live in a ground floor flat with a shared garden but i cnt let them out. (they have never been outside either). ive looked everywhere for answers but can only find : how to introduce chickens to a new flock. i dont have a flock. my hens have inprinted on myself and people but they wont inprint on each other. so how do i get them to inprint on each other ? my adult is bullying the polish wenever she gets to close what do i do and so forth ?

 

[terryg]

It's always difficult to introduce one bird to another. It's actually easier when there's a number of them in a flock. It's also difficult when introducing two chickens of different ages, especially when one isn't fully mature. The younger one will appreciate having a high roost or a place to go that the big one can't fit. Keeping them very busy helps - set out several pieces of watermelon. I have more ideas on this FAQ:
http://hencam.com/faq/introducing-new-hens/
I also have a FAQ about pecking order that explains why they do what they do. If you've only had one hen, then seeing the dynamics between two will be a shock!
http://hencam.com/faq/pecking-order/

 

[renaissance]

just to let those of you who have read this and those of you who have commented that my two hens are kinda getting on. my year old hen tollerates my new younger hen who is now 9weeks old. my 9week old polish is scared of her and wont go near her but they are getting used to each other. i havent taken any advice from people on here because everything that ive been told ive seen on the internet and in books. but thankyou for trying anyway.