introducing a pullet to a hen in a coop

[smoked chicken]

We introduced a RIR pullet to our full grown hen. Now the older hen will not lay eggs, stays in her nesting box, only periodically comes out to eat and drink. Then she goes back to her nesting box. This has been going on for 3 days when the pullet was put in the coop with the full grown hen. There's not a lot of harassment now but at first there was...hen pecking the pullet. This has stopped, but hen is being territorial. Seems she's protecting her nesting box, but not laying eggs. How long will this last?
Thank you, Annette

 

[krista74]

Let me first say that I am VERY new to chickens, but I am wondering if there is any chance your old hen could be broody? That would explain the reluctance to leave the nesting box? Otherwise I can only assume the newcomer has upset her so much she has retreated to consider her situation! I would have thought that if she was feeling territorial she would establish herself as head hen, and there would be a bit of a face-off going on. But like I said, I am only new so I could well be wrong. Hope she comes around soon for you. Krista

 

[smoked chicken]

thank you

 

[azygous]

That was also my first thought - she may be broody, and it's merely coincidental that the new pullet has arrived on the scene.

With just one new-comer being introduced to just one hen, you would expect just a very minimum if social "adjustment", usually one or two pecks on the head to make it clear to the newbie who's got the seniority, and all's well. I've never seen nor heard of a hen co-opting a nest to establish territory.

There are other signs to tell if your hen is broody. Look on her breast. Are there bald strips along the breast bone? Does she flatten herself in the nest, puffing up like an angry badger when you reach for her, screeching to high heaven? When she is off the nest, does she utter a low, fretful "pop, pop, pop" noise, much different from her usual clucking?

Has she been laying consistently for at least a month and laid the last egg around the time the new pullet arrived? All these point to her being broody and the new pullet has nothing to do with it.

 

[smoked chicken]

thank you.