How long does it take for a new bird to get along with the others??

[Smoochie]

Soooooo true. Scroll up a few posts and you'll see that I first responded on May 2nd. Here we are 6 months and 2 days later and we are still having issues. Things have cycled around a bit when one or the other went broody, but now they are back to separating along "new girl/old girls" lines. I was SOO hoping they would literally warm up to each other better before the weather got cold since Violet, my new girlie, is not as cold-hardy and ends up sleeping alone on a separate roost bar from the other three. Of course, they are all molting too. I have more than jokingly considered knitting her a sweater, but I'm afraid it would make her more of a target to the others. Argh. Enough already!

mm

Small flocks often have the most difficult dynamics. The only thing left I can suggest is to put them all in a large dog kennel and take them to a friends house or relatives for a week. Chickens hate change and will tend to cling together. Then while their gone go and "change" your coop so it feels new to them (add some shredded paper to the bedding, Spray bomb one side pink... Whatever). Hopefully, they will have " bonded" from there little vacation and will get along better.

 

[maizy'smom]

Small flocks often have the most difficult dynamics. The only thing left I can suggest is to put them all in a large dog kennel and take them to a friends house or relatives for a week. Chickens hate change and will tend to cling together. Then while their gone go and "change" your coop so it feels new to them (add some shredded paper to the bedding, Spray bomb one side pink... Whatever). Hopefully, they will have " bonded" from there little vacation and will get along better.

I have to say, that's a train of thought I had completely missed. I have been brain-storming about rearranging the roost bars inside the coop, primarily in order to make room for a waterer inside the coop for the winter. But that may be a perfect excuse/opportunity to tweak the seating arrangements too! Two points to Smoochie for the idea of the day! Thanks!

mm

 

[mitzey]

omg!! Guys thank you so very much...!! I had 4 bantums for 3 years but 3rd died just over a week ago...leaving lilly alone and soooooooo depressed looking without company...so I went out and bought 2 new lovely girls, same breed..Lucy and flo..thinking we would now all live happily ever after...but no!! Lilly has turned into billy from the Bronx ..its so hard to watch her, only nice part is at bedtime as she at least leaves them alone then and they all sleep ok, but the day is hard to watch as she spends most of the time chasing them...so o read your posts have really helped me, ill hang in there a little bit more...thank you so much
Mitzey

 

[spdykat]

I was given a hen yesterday that is about 3 years old, maybe? My other hen is 3 1/2 years old and just lost her sister Friday. They have alternated yesterday and today between guarding the food and water, one keeping the other out of the roost area, and maybe a few minutes of actually coexisting. I will try some of the suggestions here if it doesn't settle down soon...