Integrating new hens 1 at a time.

[Mrs. K]

I am surprised, I would have expected this to go much better.
Two on Two birds - younger and older but all mature, but home court advantage and enough space.

As Ridgerunner often states - you really can't make predictions how it will go. Personally, I don't keep chickens I don't like, move them on.

Maybe the BO will go broody, this is the time of year, and they very often will do so, then if you want to increase your flock, add day old chicks. She will raise them up with no discord in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Did you do the "see-no-touch" pre-integration thing for a week or two before putting them together, so they could get acquainted safely before being put together?

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Did you do the "see-no-touch" pre-integration thing for a week or two before putting them together, so they could get acquainted safely before being put together?

Yes.
It seems after the new hens saw my original hens lay eggs there was a slight change in behavior. Then they roosted (seperate roosting bars and areas but the same coop) and when they got up that morning they were better still. BO is taking the subtler hints when the elders want her to go away.
But now they are much more harmonious. They dust bathe together and preen, and today they sang egg songs together which was really neat.
Hopefully things keep running smoothly behavior wise. For a moment there it was very iffy.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Great, that's good news! So it was a little rocky to start but now they're getting along. Wonderful.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Perhaps the difference is (if I understand correctly), that your original birds are the younger ones. Most folks bring in younger birds, and the OG/older girls boss them around.
It would be rough to have the newbies kicking your proverbial ass.