Introducing a new hen

[aart]

Here's some tips and links.
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This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO: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

 

[Undyingtable]

Thank you, that's very helpful! I will try those tips out.

 

[Pghelp]

Here's some tips and links.
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

This is really helpful and we've tried to do all this. We have a new adult Auracana we are trying to introduce to our flock of 3 (2 Barred Rock and 1 RRR all over a year old). Right now we have two coops set up end to end so everyone can see everyone else, they're fed side by side but separated by the hardware cloth. We have the added complication that the Auracana is nearly half the size of the other hens who have been together since chicks. We've tried a couple of times to integrate them but the other girls unite to just peck the fire out of the Auracana. Add to that the complication that a raccoon attacked her the night we first got her. Those wounds have mostly healed and new feathers are finally growing out a month later but she is still skittish and stopped laying other than 2 eggs those first days. I figure those eggs were already "in production process" and we haven't seen an egg since then. We knew if wasn't safe to introduce her with her injuries, hence the separate coops.

We've had her now for 5 weeks and I am starting to despair of ever being able to integrate her into the flock. She wants to be near them but if they can get to her, frankly I'm afraid they will kill her. Any additional ideas would be most appreciated!

 

[aart]

Well, as already noted, that coop/run is pretty small and more space makes for easier integration..so you may need to add to at least the run space.
I don't see the second separate coop?
Do they share the run space?
Would be good to see pics of the whole setup.

This might help too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[Mrs. K]

To pgHelp, try putting the new bird with just one bird, either out in the yard together but one on one, not 3 on one.

It is also helpful to put the new bird in the main set up, without any of the other birds, this will allow her to explore it at her own pace, not being terrorized by the others. Maybe two days in there by herself, then a time period with one other bird in there for several days.

Then add the other girls.

If you have a yard, let the old girls out in it. Lock the new girl in the coop/run. The second day, feed both groups along the fence. So that they approach the fence and the other birds to eat.

Mrs K

 

[Pghelp]

To pgHelp, try putting the new bird with just one bird, either out in the yard together but one on one, not 3 on one.

It is also helpful to put the new bird in the main set up, without any of the other birds, this will allow her to explore it at her own pace, not being terrorized by the others. Maybe two days in there by herself, then a time period with one other bird in there for several days.

Then add the other girls.

If you have a yard, let the old girls out in it. Lock the new girl in the coop/run. The second day, feed both groups along the fence. So that they approach the fence and the other birds to eat.

Mrs K

Thanks! We did try the new one with just one other (twice with a different chicken each time) but we couldn't stand it anymore. The established one just chased her around until she trapped her in a corner so she could peck her. I think my biggest worry is that the Araucana is really only half the size of the other girls and the fact that she's still recovering from the raccoon injury doen't help. Today we tried letting everybody out in the yard together for a change. The Auracana doesn't even know how to scratch for grubs, worms and greens like the other girls. She just stood around. The others ignored her until Boss Hen saw her and chased her down. I've never seen a chicken pull feathers out of another but that's what happened today. I'm starting to wonder if we're just going to have an isolated pet Auracana. I understand they have to establish the pecking order but my girls are twice her size!

Oh, another thing we tried too -- we have the Auracana in the girls old coop and the established flock is in the Auracana's coop which came with her. We thought that was they could get used to each other's smells. The coops are set up end to end and it's kind of pitiful that the Auracana wants to hang out with the flock but they try to peck her through the mesh of the coop. They're eating side by side with only the mesh between them. We can't do free range any more because of cats, raccoons, and opossums so they can only run around when we can be out there too.

 

[Mrs. K]

You know, I think I would consider rehoming the Auracana. While the three are being merciless mean to this bird, it is very hard on them too. Always solve to the peace of the flock. This cannot be enjoyable to watch and deal with, not good for you or your flock.

Sometimes in very tiny flocks, especially those very cute coop/run set ups, one more bird can be one more bird too much. Many times, those coops suggest about twice the number of birds that will comfortably fit in there. Your birds are telling you you do not have enough space and they are willing to kill to prove their point.

Take a tape measure out, measure the width and length of the inside coop, and the outside run. Your coop, should be about 4 feet wide and 5 feet long, the run should be about 5 feet wide and 9 feet long. And that would be tight for doing what you want to do, which is add one smaller bird to 3 bigger birds.

I would not suggest keeping her separate, I would suggest rehoming her. Too many birds, overcrowding can cause very ugly behaviors to get established and spread. Birds getting along, can turn on each other.

Mrs K

 

[Pghelp]

Thanks, I'll consider that. It's funny though, we started out with 4 birds who all lived together pretty contented until a cat got the smallest RIR. So I'm thinking it's more the Auracana being so small along with the 3 being an established unit. The coop and the run meet your dimensions and they all have free range of the whole backyard as often as possible. Tough choices.

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes you just get a bird that does not fit. Adding a single bird is the toughest of introductions. Play with it some more, more see, no touch, patience will sometimes make it go, but sometimes it never does.