Introducing a new chicken....

[kari_dawn]

I always like to do introductions of newbies in numbers of two and three, that way the new ones don't get singled out as much...

 

[Renee22]

I like the filing the beak down idea, but who wants to hold them for me? hahaha Right now, the AL is hanging out in the roosting area mainly still and the reds are acting like their best friend has died. i.e. standing as close together in the coop as they can get with chicken wire inbetween, lol! I'm going to leave them like that until it's dusk and then put all three back together, as I don't have a really good place to put the AL all night long. Hopefully tomorrow morning they will be happier together. I'm going to add another water and food bowl at the other end of the coop in the hopes that she will get something to eat/drink when the reds are at the opposite end doing the same thing! I don't have room in the coop to put anything for her to hide behind, unfortunately. It's only 18 sf, if that. She usually just goes up in the roosting area to get away. My hopes were that the laying RIR would make friends with her when she laid an egg today, but no such luck; no egg! I'll see what tomorrow brings!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Good luck. And they'll always fight and peck a bit when introducing new ones... just so long as they don't draw blood...

I'd also, again, reiterate that tomorrow morning you should have something in there for them to peck at so they're not bored and focus on each other.

 

[cposz]

I always introduce new girls two at a time, too, but there is always some chasing and nipping and fighting. It should settle down in a couple of weeks, but it's miserable to watch while it's going on. We quarantined the two pullets we added this fall in a small temporary tractor and run right next to the coop, so they could see each other during that month, and it made introductions easier. They only got chased for a few days this time, instead of a few weeks.

 

[Renee22]

Ok, I've got both reds separated (in the milk crates and they're not really happy about it, lol) and given the AL the run of the coop. I did, however, block her access from the roosting box b/c she seemed to be in it ALL the time and that isn't healthy, I don't think; especially on a beautfiul 50+ degree fall day! So I removed the food/water from the roosting box, blocked it and have the 2 reds separated. I've added another food bowl to the coop area and will be adding another water bowl but am waiting until I can get one that's heated before I spend more money on something I'm not going to use for very long. I've also filed the beaks down a little bit on the Reds (talk about unhappy hens?! lol). What I'm wondering is this: if I wait until dark, and the AL is roosting, to add the reds back in, do you think they'll be ok? When I picked up the AL today she seemed pretty thin, which was the primary reason for separating both the reds from her. I want her to be able to eat/drink w/out being harassed, at least for today. Thanks for any input!

 

[PoultryPedia]

How are your hens doing?

I hope well...

 

[cmom]

I recently introduced 4 RIR pullets in with my RIWs. It actually went better than I thought it would. I have some of my coops divided so I put the RIR girls in one side and the RIWs in the other. They roosted next to each other for a good month before I put them together. There was some minor squabbles but they have enough room to run. Maybe you could free range them in your yard while you are out there to watch them. I mix up several grains and seeds with sunflower seed too and (oatmeal, 3 grain scratch, bird seed, and sunflower seeds) they love it. Most of the time when I introduce or combine my flocks I let them free range with plenty of my treat mix. They are usually more interested in the treats then each other. There will be a minor squabble once in awhile but nothing major. Good luck...

 

[Renee22]

Update: All 3 of my hens are doing wonderful! There are still the occasional squabbles, but nothing major and they are all even eating out of the same food bowl at the same time. I have added an additional food bowl in the roost, just as a precaution against anyone being shooed away from the bowl too often, but for the most part, they are all finally getting along. I still only have one Rhode Island Red producing an egg a day, but hey, it's fall/winter in southern Ohio and if I can get one egg from three chickens on a consistent basis, that's still pretty good! Thanks to ALL of you who give such wonderful advice and insight! I thoroughly enjoy reading the comments and looking at all the great pictures!

 

[PoultryPedia]

YAY!!!

Glad it's going really well! Thanks for the update

 

[brianahurley]

I am having the same problem with just one hen.I rescued one brown hen from an animal shelter and she was alone for about a month. She has come to rule the yard (including the dogs). She is now allowed to go in and out of the coop and the dogs let her do her thing. We just rescued a second hen from a farm factory and she is a little bit smaller and white. She seems sad as she is not yet comfortable in her new home and stays upstairs in the nesting area. The brown one yells at her when she comes downstairs so the new white one just lays around all day. When I am home I separate them and let the new white one ("Little") have the coop to herself for a few hours. I love the pumpkin Idea and will try that right away. I will also put some food and water upstairs for the white one. Sleeping is an issue and I have been actually placing them in their "bedroom". I will keep reading on to see what else to do. I hope Little gets a little more aggressive and stands up for herself. I don't want fighting but my brown one is not being very nice. Thanks for all of the ideas!