How to integrate 1 hen into a free range flock of 5?

[DBeebe06]

I see all these nice ways to integrate new chickens to the flock but they involve keeping them in a similar area. I have a flock of 5, 1 roo and 4 hens, and I had an additional roo but traded him for a hen to my friend who had no roos. Now I have a small enclosure that can be moved from location to location and a carrier to keep the newbie safe in the coop, but since my current flock free range they pretty much ignore her. I am worried when I let her out they'll still attack her because she isn't part of the flock and they have 5 acres to roam on, so they haven't been around her for most of the day unless I bribe them to be close with food. I just want her to be safe when its time for her to meet everyone and the coop is fine for sleeping but too small for everyone and the carrier to stay in all day. Thoughts?

 

[SnackMeat]

Carrier at night in the coop. Then observe them in the morning. The hen should be able to run and have space if someone bullies her. The downside could be that with so much room, she wouldn't come back to the coop.

I would probably be more worried at the moment about her coming back to the coop at night.

 

[DBeebe06]

Carrier at night in the coop. Then observe them in the morning. The hen should be able to run and have space if someone bullies her. The downside could be that with so much room, she wouldn't come back to the coop.

I would probably be more worried at the moment about her coming back to the coop at night.

She is in a small enclosure right now so she has outside space to herself, and I will be putting her in the carrier at night in the coop, I am just concerned about her being bullied or pecked to death once I do let her out, or she gets shunned and isn't welcomed into the flock and is all on her own.

 

[SnackMeat]

Hm. Are any of your hens or your rooster bullies?


I don't know this firsthand, but maybe someone else would chime in. If the enclosure is big enough for a second chicken, I would rotate one hen in and give lots of treats. They can work out pecking order stuff 1:1 and less likely to have a group bully situation later on (hypothetically.) forced bonding time with good food and rotating everyone through could be the way to go. I might do short stints with the rooster (not all day though) depending on the size of the enclosure (could she get away from him?)

Hope someone who knows can help. Introducing a single chicken is harder than introducing more than one from what I've read.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

How old are they, your flock of five and the new girl? If they are all about the same age it's probably not a big deal but if some are more mature than the others it could make a difference in a couple of different ways. I'll assume they are about the same age.

I agree your main concern is probably her joining them in the coop at night. You said the small enclosure can fit in the coop. Since they free range, I'd leave the girl by herself in the enclosure in the coop for about a week and then let her out. That should home her to the coop as a safe place to sleep. Your chickens will probably only see her when they get up in the morning, go to bed, or when the hens return to the coop to lay eggs. That will probably be enough.

But let up know how old they are and once again,

 

[DBeebe06]

Hm. Are any of your hens or your rooster bullies?


I don't know this firsthand, but maybe someone else would chime in. If the enclosure is big enough for a second chicken, I would rotate one hen in and give lots of treats. They can work out pecking order stuff 1:1 and less likely to have a group bully situation later on (hypothetically.) forced bonding time with good food and rotating everyone through could be the way to go. I might do short stints with the rooster (not all day though) depending on the size of the enclosure (could she get away from him?)

Hope someone who knows can help. Introducing a single chicken is harder than introducing more than one from what I've read.

Unfortunately its not, it was fine when my original flock were chicks but I hatched them all so they have been together since day 1 and they're about 16 weeks now and the new girl is around 13 weeks.

 

[DBeebe06]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

How old are they, your flock of five and the new girl? If they are all about the same age it's probably not a big deal but if some are more mature than the others it could make a difference in a couple of different ways. I'll assume they are about the same age.

I agree your main concern is probably her joining them in the coop at night. You said the small enclosure can fit in the coop. Since they free range, I'd leave the girl by herself in the enclosure in the coop for about a week and then let her out. That should home her to the coop as a safe place to sleep. Your chickens will probably only see her when they get up in the morning, go to bed, or when the hens return to the coop to lay eggs. That will probably be enough.

But let up know how old they are and once again,

The original flock is about 16 weeks and the new girl is 13 weeks. My girls aren't laying yet but they're getting very red and I assume it'll happen any day now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It just got complicated. I can't tell you what will happen because there are so many different possibilities that might happen.

Ignoring the thirteen week one for a while, many different things could be happening with the immature cockerel and pullets. He may not have matured to the point that he is mating with the pullets. He may be mating with any or all of them. Some pullets may be willingly mating with him or they may be running away from him if he tries to mate them. He may chase them down and force them to mate or may let them go. Whatever is happening now can change as they mature. The encouraging thing is that you are not complaining and they free range. With that much room there is a good chance it will not get that bad. There is often a world of difference in how they behave when they have a lot of room versus when they are kept in a small coop and run.

A 16-week-old pullet is usually not mature to the point where they will willingly squat for a cockerel but it is often just not that bad. But a 13-week-old is a lot less mature than a 16-week-old. The cockerel is less likely to invite her to join his flock if he is acting that mature because she is still more of a child than a teenager. He might be fine with her in his flock, especially if he feels that it is really his flock. Or he may not allow her anywhere around. You just don't know.

To me the bigger risk is the other pullets. It is possible they will let her join the flock even with that difference in maturity. It is also possible they will attack her because of the maturity level. Some chickens can be brutes and bullies, maybe dangerously so.

Another real possibility is that they do not bother her but don't allow her to join them. If she invades their personal space they attack her and run her off. She may hang in the general area but never really join them until she matures to the point she is also an adult. That's usually when she starts to lay. Eventually she should be allowed to join the flock.

I know I'm making it sound horrible. Many of us go through similar stuff every year and it is often not that bad. Mine typically form separate flocks based on age until they mature and join the flock. It is easier when you have more than one, they seem quite happy to form separate flocks as long as they have a buddy. To me, it is harder to integrate a single chicken that it is to integrate a few.

I'd still house her in the coop for a week to try to get her to sleep in there. There is a decent chance the others will not allow her to roost with them but as long as she is sleeping somewhere predator safe I'd be happy. If she does not run with them during the day, no big deal. My goal when integrating is that no one gets hurt. If you can manage that you are doing great. All of the happy one flock eating and roosting together will happen when she matures enough. There is also a possibility they will let her join them immediately. That happens too, just don't be surprised if it doesn't.

Good luck!

 

[DBeebe06]

I for sure will be keeping her in a large cat carrier in the coop at night to make sure she is safe and for at least the weekend maybe even the week keep her in the small enclosure outside during the day, I want to be sure she knows where "home" is before she's let out, we will see I guess!

 

[Mrs. K]

It is better to introduce a pair than a single bird. Depending on the size of your enclosure - pick a middle of the flock of the main flock. Put her and the new bird in the enclosure. There will be a dust up, but one on one should settle pretty quickly. Do this when you can watch and keep an eye on them. But really I would expect this to be a bit of bluster.

Let the original bird roost with the others at night, new one in the cat box. Do this for several days so that this pair gets along. Then close to dark, when the other birds come back to roost, put out some treats in several places, let everyone mingle. bluster and settle. The urge to roost will be pretty strong, and there is a good chance she will follow them into roost.

If not keep repeating until it does work. This way you are introducing a pair to the group, not a single bird.

Mrs K