Introducing 2 pullets to a bully and a nice hen

[alixd]

I'm introducing (2) three month old hens to a older hen and a 4 year old hen. Our 4 year old hen will not let the younger hens into the roost at night. During the daytime its OK they just avoid each other but the nighttime is a problem. I put the younger hens in the roost last night but tonight again our four year old hen will not let them up in the roost. Any recommendation on what I should do?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Don't force them onto the roost. I'd aim for just having them in the coop together for now and let them roost when they feel comfortable with it.

OR... if you have room for it, it sounds like you just have 1 roost? This is where having a second roost would be a nice option as one bird cannot guard both at the same time provided that the 2nd roost is properly spaced from the first (at least 14-16" horizontally apart).

 

[alixd]

Thank you so much for your reply, that's what my husband keeps telling me, I appreciate your advice.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree with Rosemarythyme. What I typically see is until my pullets start laying I have two sub-flocks. If the young invade the personal space of the old they are likely to get pecked so they quickly learn to avoid the adults. Sounds like yours are normal.

How big is your coop and what does it look like? Do you have enough room in there for a second roost? Can the young ones get somewhere to avoid the older while they are in there? I do this so often I put in a "juvenile roost", horizontally separated by about 3 feet, about a foot lower than the main roosts, and higher than the nests so they are not tempted to sleep in the nests. Before I put that juvenile roost in they were sleeping in the nests a lot. I don't care where mine sleep as long as it is predator safe and not in my nests. When they mature enough they will join the adults on the main roosts.

When I open the coop in the morning I typically see the juveniles up on my 5' high roosts while the adults are on the coop floor. The juveniles have learned to avoid the old ones so things stay peaceful and no one gets hurt. When they go outside they keep their distance.