How to introduce my hen without her bleeding to death

[momminallday]

Excuse my grammar, I'm fighting the flu!

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

We did a dog kennel outside of our chicken pen when we got our new lady to introduce. We only have 3 other hens though, and only one who is aggressive. We kept her in the dog kennel, let them out together only outside the chicken pen, heavily supervised with my husband and I both outside, and put about an entire bag of sunflower seed on the ground to attempt distracting Rutabaga (our head hen). After about 2 weeks they aren't exactly friends but they tolerate her, I say they are jealous because she is beautiful (golden laced wynadotte)! She is now allowed in the coop, in the pen, and even in the nesting box. We added a nesting box, and a second feeder to attempt keeping some space between them.

I have a golden also thanks for the advice

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You may find this helpful http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock

 

[Eggcessive]

Those medium or large size wire dog crates really come in handy over the years. You can separate one chicken in the coop or a couple of small pullets, with food and water, where they can become familiar over a week or two. This also confines the new chicken to the coop for a lest a week, so they know to return there every night to sleep.

The crate I have has been used to transport chickens in the back of my car to take to a new home, for bringing new chickens in, and as a hospital coop for a sick or injured chicken. They can be pricey, but you can also make one out of re-purposed 2x4’s and some chicken wire or hardware cloth.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks everyone