Introducing 15 week old chicken to existing 16 week old group

[Njp13]

Hello, I just got a chicken in from Mcmurray hatchery. It was a 15 week old silver laced Wyandotte. My existing flock is 3 16 week Olds. How should I go about introducing them to eachother? My existing flock is made up of two females and one male, I think! My barred rock and buff orpington are females. And the third that I believe to be a male is a rhode island red. The new bird is slightly smaller and definitely not aggressive. Pit them together for a little bit but the Rhode Island red is very aggressive. Is this just because he is a male?

 

[azygous]

I wrote an article for BYC on this subject. scroll down and click on the link for introducing a single hen to a flock. It takes about three weeks to fully integrate a new chicken and have her become one of the gang.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

RIR tend to be a bit more authoratative. My RIR hen is definitely my lead hen; she is not a bully but she is quick to settle disputes or run to the aid of anyone's chicks. What was the RIR doing? At 16 weeks old he is ready to mate, so you may have been seeing some of that. A day or two of "see but don't touch" is usually sufficient, if you are not going to do a quarantine period.

 

[aart]

Duplicate thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hicken-to-existing-16-week-old-group.1192168/

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Might want to think hard about whether you need a male,
if in fact it is one.
Might want to post some pics(current and from 6 weeks old) of the RIR here:
Duplicate thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hicken-to-existing-16-week-old-group.1192168/
1 male and 4 females might be problematic, depending on the male's demeanor.

Best to have some extra and separate space to integrate, especially when only one new bird is involved.

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