Integrating one pullet

[Twitchy Bee]

I made the mistake of buying only one small Easter egger and thought it would be easy to integrate her. I jist got two adult pullets last weekend and everyone accepted them just fine. I have 6 hens and 2 rooster. My youngest hens are about 4mths old and get along with the rest. My easter egger I bought 3 weeks ago and didnt think on getting another to make it easier. She runs back and forth in her separate run at the other chickens. I'm not sure if she wants to play with them or run. If I let her out they all attack. She has her separate run inside the large run and she has spent 3 days so far in it. Its giving me anxiety knowing she's stuck in there and not knowing if its gonna work out in the end anyway.

So do I stop worrying and let her out fully after a week or more? And is it okay to let her free range with everyone else all day or should I give her to someone else?

 

[Mrs. K]

Pick a middle bird from the flock. Put her in with your lone bird, they may duke it out, but it is one on one, not a flock on one. Leave them until they get it straight. Then you can add the pair to the group. Or you can add a more aggressive bird to the pair. Then add the trio back.

 

[Twitchy Bee]

Pick a middle bird from the flock. Put her in with your lone bird, they may duke it out, but it is one on one, not a flock on one. Leave them until they get it straight. Then you can add the pair to the group. Or you can add a more aggressive bird to the pair. Then add the trio back.

I think its mostly my anxiety. I let her out of the pen at 7:30 while I tucked everyone else in bed. She hopped up next to my large roo and he put his wing around her. I still locked her in her night pen. I dont trust anyone in the morning. They all free range in the day so she has some space. I was just afraid shed get scared and run off into the woods. My last hen ran away after a week of letting her join the flock. Ill try the adding one bird in the large pen with her. Maybe the too little ones. They are almost the same age. Right now they all take turns talking to the chick. Its so cute. Thanks for the advise! I jist have bad anxiety and a hard time of letting my babies grow up by themselves

 

[aart]

Since you have 2 enclosures, I'd suggest a little chicken juggling.
As Mrs. K suggests, put a mid-ranking and/or more docile member of the flock in with her see how it goes. Then another or two and/or put the newb and another back into the flock, just keep mixing things up as it will distract them all.
Be flexible and creative....and damp down your anxiety, they can feel that and it makes them nervous. Cool, calm, confident as much as possible makes things easier.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[aart]

This might help too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[Twitchy Bee]

Thanks guys. I went to let her out to put her in her dog crate for the night and both roos chased her into the woods pulling her feathers out. I freaked and couldnt stand hearing her screams. I dont think they will ever get along. And I'm afraid they will end up doing that again while I'm at work. Shes so different than everyone else. She looks like the hawks that we have here. Maybe they dont like her looks? Not sure if I should permanently keep her away from them or find someone here with other nice easter eggers to live with. I have never seen my roos ever get that nasty. It definitely wasnt a mating thing.

 

[azygous]

How old is this EE?

 

[TwinkleCake]

I'm currently dealing with this situation. I found the lowest chicken on the pecking order and put her with my newcomer. When she accepted him (didn't take long), I interduced the next lowest. When she accepted him, I focused on the next, and so on. I did this while they were free-ranging to give my guy ample room to run. The rest of the flock stayed penned in the run. If I left the house, he was either caged in the run with them, or allowed to free range alone. It's been a week so far and they don't want to kill each other. As a wise member on this forum told me, it just takes time.

Hang in there!

 

[Twitchy Bee]

How old is this EE?

She is 3 mths. Ill try introducing her to my 4mthers

 

[Twitchy Bee]

I'm currently dealing with this situation. I found the lowest chicken on the pecking order and put her with my newcomer. When she accepted him (didn't take long), I interduced the next lowest. When she accepted him, I focused on the next, and so on. I did this while they were free-ranging to give my guy ample room to run. The rest of the flock stayed penned in the run. If I left the house, he was either caged in the run with them, or allowed to free range alone. It's been a week so far and they don't want to kill each other. As a wise member on this forum told me, it just takes time.

Hang in there!

Thanks so much. Ive had so much on my hands at once. Now I'm battling I guess yeast in my one hen. Some stranger dropped off a roo and 2 hens and a fight broke loose. The new roo was found dead and my roo took in the new hens. Tjis happened as in trying to integrate my new hen so everyone is stressed out. It also doesnt help that she looks so different. I'm off to see her get along with my 4mth girls