Introducing a new chicken

[pixie74943]

with your tiny tiny 'flock' I wouldnt stress too much about her not getting accepted. Let her grow back her feathers, and have them take turns free ranging in the backyard (if you can) and then let them out together. Dont just force the newbie into the other territory.

and good luck.. I'm in the same situation, except my newbie is only 2 months, the others are 7.. so she has some growing up to do. Hopefully she keeps her sassy people loving personality, I see her taking over the coop

 

[Firstimer]

Thank you all so much! I'll let her ger her feathers back on her own and then I'll let them interact directly again.

Scary thing owning chickens! I'm always so worried they won't be happy...

Stéph

 

[Blondiechic]

I know this is an older thread but now I am concerened I have done the wrong thing! My rooster left on Saturday for his new home so my lovely husband took me down to get two pullets to replace him - giving me four hens, while at the nursery where they sell the chickens they had a hen house with 'older' hens who need homes so I went back the next day and got one - he wasn't happy about it but he agreed...

I read somewhere to introduce new chickens at dusk so they sleep together and then are supposed to be less inclined to be mean to each other, so the babies went in Saturday evening (my big girls just looked at them like they were aliens) and since then they have been eating but otherwise are in and out of hiding. I put the new hen in last night and she had a bit of a tiff with my in charge girl, but then after that they were all eating together and shared some broccoli, the babies came out and I was happy - I am keeping them all locked in for a couple of days so they all know where to sleep...

This morning I can hear the bigger girls having the odd tiff, but last night they all slept together - properly together - and were all hanging out waiting for me to feed them when all five of them ate this morning - the babies are since hiding again. I think thats because Walter, who is last in the pecking order doesn't want to be! The new ones will all let me pick them up and when I go out there to see what is going on they all act like nothing has happened

My plan was to let them all out tomorrow as I figured the big girls wiill wander about together and the babies will get brave eventually...

Have I done this all wrong? Ought I to put the new ones in with the old ones in something or fenced half off? I do love my girls but find I worry about them quite a lot!

 

[Blondiechic]

...I think I am very lucky! They are all hanging out together now and all seem quite happy - Walter has gone from picking on the babies to mothering them!

I just gave them some bread and treats to keep them occupied and all are eating together and sharing nicely.

 

[chicknnugget]

Wow I am impressed. I have a flock of three, that have just been introduced to a new pullet. I have been keeping her seperated for 3 weeks now. They do sleep togeter in the coop, but I need to get her out of there 1st thing in the AM. They have been together under my supervision for short amounts of time each day, with some succses here and there. I still feel I could not leave them all together on thier own. The new pullet is so nervous, she brings some of this on herself by running around and making sudden movements. This triggers one or the other to chase her. Well glad to hear you had an easier time of it. Thanks for sharing.