Integrating new hens (juveniles) into a flock

[yesbabaem]

Greetings!

I've just traded out my 3 roosters for 3 hens and have put them in with my surviving 4 girls (16 weeks) the new girls are black sex links at about 12 - 13 weeks. The old girls are bullying the new girls (chasing them away from food and water) I've put out a second water at the other end of the run so the new girls will not have to cross over to the old girls side to get water. The new girls seem to spend most of the day hiding under the coop to get away from the other girls.

Is this normal and do I just need to let them work it out?

Thanks!

 

[Chickiemom25]

unless there is bloodshed, let them be.. its been almost 3 month and my 1 year olds still chase the 5 month olds away from the best treats. the pullets still hide their heads at bed time and avoid the older girls, even though the older ones are now about half the size of the young Plymouth rocks. ... they will work it out.. Mine did in the past and these will too.

 

[cathiesue]

It's gonna be like that for a while. Mine still have an "Us" vs "Them" thing going. The extra food and water station are great. I usually manage to "treat" the new birds first whenever I bring anything out to them. Guess I remember being picked on at school. HaHa.