Introducing 2 new hens

[rgspine]

Hey all, I've been in the backyard chicken game for 2 years. I have a good setup with a very large fenced in area of 40/20 feet. Coup is open for chickens to come and go. I've had some issues with foxes and belief I'm now fox proof. I recently had a hawk fly through the bird netting, they killed a bird but couldn't get out. I had to physically remove the hawk. I'm hoping that won't be duplicated. However my question is this is the first time I have introduced two new birds to the two existing mature hens. The new one is laying and the other one should be close. Sizes are similar. There was a little fighting initially with one of the new ones. Then they avoided each other the rest of the day. My real question now is the night. One new one (older of the two new ones and the one which was fighting a bit with the two existing hens) went into the coup and slept on top of the feeding tube but not into the upper compartment. The other one I had to put into the coup but he stayed on the ground level. I am assuming they will all eventually go into the main compartment with the nesting boxes when they can all tolerate each other and avoid physical combat. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Aapomp831]

You are correct; once they work out the pecking order, I’m sure they’ll find their place on she roost. It’s normal for existing birds to be territorial and not allow new birds on the roost.... even within their own flock, the most dominant hen gets the best pick of the best roosting spot (what makes it better than other places, I have no clue lol). Just curious - can you expand your roost or add another one?

 

[aart]

Did you just add the new ones in without any 'look don't touch' intro?
How big is the coop, pics please.

 

[rgspine]

You are correct; once they work out the pecking order, I’m sure they’ll find their place on she roost. It’s normal for existing birds to be territorial and not allow new birds on the roost.... even within their own flock, the most dominant hen gets the best pick of the best roosting spot (what makes it better than other places, I have no clue lol). Just curious - can you expand your roost or add another one?

The ground portion of the coup actually has two roosting bars as well. It's not a huge coup but I've had 4 in their at once. No room for additional roosts but the two hens actually sleep in the nesting boxes. Cant break that habit and eggs aren't poopy because I thin we remove daily.

 

[rgspine]

Did you just add the new ones in without any 'look don't touch' intro?
How big is the coop, pics please.

I read about that type of approach after I put them in. Although I have a lot of open space for them it a coup that maxs at 6 but I have 4 now. They seem to be tolerating each other a bit more now.

Did you just add the new ones in without any 'look don't touch' intro?
How big is the coop, pics please.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of the coop would really help. Just because you had 4 in there before (4 that all got along I assume) doesn't mean you can automatically put 4 in there again. Integration takes extra space - the recommended minimum of 4 sq ft per bird in coop may not be enough during that time. Birds that don't know each other need room to get away from each other.

The fact that you have hens sleeping in the nests tells me there's a good chance the coop set up needs improving (low roosts, not enough roosts, etc) or is smaller than you think.

 

[rgspine]

I actually just bought a slightly larger one that I could walk in that has three nesting boxes and 2 additional roosts in the walk in area. However they continued to sleep in the box which I have read isn't the best thing. There are two roosts directly above the slide out tray. I have been putting wood shavings in that area has well. Should the shavings be there? So there is now really no space between the roost and bottom tray because of the 1-2 inches of shaving.
Last night the 2 new hens roosted in the walk in area together. Appreciate the feedback. I'll try to get some pictures.

 

[rgspine]

Photos of the coop would really help. Just because you had 4 in there before (4 that all got along I assume) doesn't mean you can automatically put 4 in there again. Integration takes extra space - the recommended minimum of 4 sq ft per bird in coop may not be enough during that time. Birds that don't know each other need room to get away from each other.

The fact that you have hens sleeping in the nests tells me there's a good chance the coop set up needs improving (low roosts, not enough roosts, etc) or is smaller than you think.

So there is 3 boxes and 2 roosting bars in the enclosed section and 2 roosting bars in the open section. I have 4 hens altogether. The two senior ones have been sleeping in their boxes when I got them last year. They were from a large farm that kept their chickens in pens in a barn. No coop etc, it took those birds a few weeks to act like chickens. The two newer ones which are a bit younger slept on the bars in the open portion of coop. The coop is enclosed in a larger 20x40 6ft fence. Their coop is always open, food tube in the pen, water tube is outside. Thanks again for opinions!!

 

[aart]

Tight quarters....for 4 birds let alone integrating 2 in with 2.

 

[Cecisflock]

So there is 3 boxes and 2 roosting bars in the enclosed section and 2 roosting bars in the open section. I have 4 hens altogether. The two senior ones have been sleeping in their boxes when I got them last year. They were from a large farm that kept their chickens in pens in a barn. No coop etc, it took those birds a few weeks to act like chickens. The two newer ones which are a bit younger slept on the bars in the open portion of coop. The coop is enclosed in a larger 20x40 6ft fence. Their coop is always open, food tube in the pen, water tube is outside. Thanks again for opinions!!

that seems good for a prefab coop!