How to introduce hens?

[Shauna's Silkies]

Hi,i am introducing 3hens to 1hen tomorrow.. I am doing it this way because we only have 1hen left out of four and i decided to get more.. I am wondering should i introduce the 3 straight away and they will be fine or what? I think. These hens are about 2 weeks till they lay. Thanks


UPDATE: i have added the hens to my 1 hen... they fought at the start and my 1 hen is pecking them all the time. Last night was fine she slept in her place and they slept in theirs.. But this morning she will not leave them out of the house and when they do come out she pecks them and hunts them to go back in. the hens need food so i have seperated the 1 hen into a cage beside them. what should i do now?

 

[BeccaSmith]

It is recommended to quarantine or keep the new chickens away from your current flock for 3 to 4 weeks to make sure they don't have an illness they just aren't showing signs of. If this isn't possible, can you separate them in the coop somehow so they have some face time before being combined together so they won't pick on each other so much?

 

[Mikee1948]

If the hens are close in size and age, there shouldn't be a problem. I dumped three pullets into my coop to join my one remaining pullet. There were no problems. Recently, I added two pullets to the now four hens, and they don't like the new comers. I have separate food and water dishes for them. After 8 days, peace is starting to return.

 

[Shauna's Silkies]

thanks for your help . The new hens are young they will lay in about a month. The 1hen is about 1yr But im still stuck. I taught because they is only 1 hen everything would be ok i was expecting a bit of pecking tough?

 

[Shauna's Silkies]

I have no clue what to do with my hen? I need help now? Please

 

[Wigggy]

Put her in the coop and let her beat them up. Feathers are fine but blood is bad so leave them to it and don't split up the fights they get over it after a day

 

[Shauna's Silkies]

But y should i let them get beating up? There is only 1 of her and 4 of them they should get along? She has been alone for a very long time about 5months i think

 

[dainerra]

there is no way to stop her from pecking them while they work out who is in charge. Be glad that it's her and not THEM as the 3 of them could have decided to gang up on her, since they are an established group.

 

[Shauna's Silkies]

Ok il try but should i let them get used to each other

 

[Wigggy]

They won't fight for ever it will only last a day or to then she will be happy being part of a flock again