Integrating new flock members

[korlia]

Ok, here goes. I have a flock ( if you can call it that) of 1 pekin bantam hen of about 2 years old with her 5 three week old chicks and a BO hen of 1 year old. I have one new 8 week old pekin bantam hen that I am trying to integrate into my flock. I know it is not the best to have only one new addition, but hubby refused me getting more than one. ( We stay in town and are not allowed to have chickens)

They sleep in a chicken tractor at night but free range in my garden during the day.

At first I kept the newbie in a seperate cage next to the tractor, then I opened her up. A bit of chasing and pecking, no blood. She is now petrified of the other two older hens. I feel so absolutely sorry for her. She sits al alone the whole day. I so badly want them to all get along. What should I do.

They all free range together during the day, but she doesnt get close to the others at all. She is very scared of them. No incidents while outside. She sleeps seperately from them. The tractor is not very big. Tonight I tried to put her in with the other pekin and chicks. It went wel for a bit and then the other pekin went for her.

What should I do? Should I just be patient? Will it ever get better. I feel so sorry for her and she is just a baby after all.... Please any advice will be greatly appreciated

 

[Den in Penn]

Be patient. Allow them to free range together for a few weeks. It will give them time to get to know each other and the eight week old a chance to mature. A young single pullet at that age is easily intimidated by mature hens, especially a broody with chicks. You might find that as the chicks mature the single will be accepted by them more readily then the established hens. Is your tractor going to be big enough for eight adults?

 

[blondiebee181]

Integrations take time and patience...your "newbie" is still very young and will be an easy target for a while. Allow to continue free-ranging with the rest of your flock for a while and continue to keep her separated in her own pen when they are away, but make sure she is close enough the big girls' cage so that they can see each other and get used to having each other around....eventually a pecking order will establish itself and your younger girl might be at the bottom. Some pecking and scuffling is totally normal and it's better if you don't interfere unless things start to get really nasty...it may take a while for things to settle down so don't get discouraged.

 

[korlia]

Thanks!! Just good to know I am not fighting a losing battle. Her cage js right next to the tractor. So they can see each other and she has her own water and food bowls.

Nope, I dont think the tractor will be big enough. So I al already planning my bigger coop, whoop whoop!

Thanks again for the advice.