introducing hen to flock...problems

[packmomma]

Ok here is the short story. Have 11 chickens that have been together a year, most for 2 years. Healthified an injured hen that has been in an adjacent pen and have been able to see each other for a couple weeks. I put her in with the flock and it started a whole chicken fight but eventually it all calmed down. I watched for a while and tried to deter mega picking on her and just kinda let it be. All seemed well except she kept flying over a shorter piece of my run and going back to her other pen and being alone. I clipped her wings and fixed the problem with the fence and put her back in. Its 11 against 1. Its like a gang. she would pace the fence and all the other chickens would line up and just peck her along as she tried to get out. I just watched her for bleeding because she still had some pin feathers coming in and all seemed well but she continually paced the fence and was pecked. I threw out feed to distract them, I let them free range to give them all something else to do, but the abuse continued. I went in there one day after woot was very abusive. I stood in there for a while and she calmed down, then pooped...water with nothing. clear sign she hadnt eaten anything. I took her back out and she chowed down on the food. She is now in the separate pen which just happens to be my youth chick pen. I put my chicks out yesterday because they are mostly feathered. She picked a little at them but is ok with them. I separate them at night when I cant be watchful.

If they all get along and I leave her in there till the chicks are older, do you think this will help them not pick on her if 7 chickens are introduced at once???

I mean I hate to keep her separate for forever. Maybe safety in numbers will help?

 

[packmomma]

Ok here is the short story. Have 11 chickens that have been together a year, most for 2 years. Healthified an injured hen that has been in an adjacent pen and have been able to see each other for a couple weeks. I put her in with the flock and it started a whole chicken fight but eventually it all calmed down. I watched for a while and tried to deter mega picking on her and just kinda let it be. All seemed well except she kept flying over a shorter piece of my run and going back to her other pen and being alone. I clipped her wings and fixed the problem with the fence and put her back in. Its 11 against 1. Its like a gang. she would pace the fence and all the other chickens would line up and just peck her along as she tried to get out. I just watched her for bleeding because she still had some pin feathers coming in and all seemed well but she continually paced the fence and was pecked. I threw out feed to distract them, I let them free range to give them all something else to do, but the abuse continued. I went in there one day after woot was very abusive. I stood in there for a while and she calmed down, then pooped...water with nothing. clear sign she hadnt eaten anything. I took her back out and she chowed down on the food. She is now in the separate pen which just happens to be my youth chick pen. I put my chicks out yesterday because they are mostly feathered. She picked a little at them but is ok with them. I separate them at night when I cant be watchful.

If they all get along and I leave her in there till the chicks are older, do you think this will help them not pick on her if 7 chickens are introduced at once???

I mean I hate to keep her separate for forever. Maybe safety in numbers will help?

sorry this posted multiple times..stupid computers.

 

[galanie]

I'm pretty sure it will help, but I'm no expert.

 

[Mattemma]

It might help. I would combine the flocks during the night when the time comes.Could try putting her in alone at night,and see how things go.

I just removed one hen,because she seems to be losing a lot of feathers,and I am already dreading the re-introduction. Hen pecking is so annoying. Good luck and I am glad you took her out. They might have left her alone after a while,but sounds like she was going to get whipped for a bit!

 

[schellie69]

I think introducing her when the babies go into the flock will help it will be 11 against 7 so better odds. If you need to I would take the head hen out for a few days then put her back should mix up the order so that everyone can work things out good luck.

 

[elmo]

Yes, that's actually a very good idea. It's very hard when there's a single newcomer because she gets all the negative attention.

It's also a good idea when introducing new birds to a flock to make sure there's more than one feeding/watering station. The established birds will often try to prevent the newcomers from feeding, and multiple stations make it harder for them to accomplish this.

 

[packmomma]

I do have two stations for food but both are in the coop. When I put them all together I'll make one outdoors too. That should help. thanks for the reply.

 

[packmomma]

I did try the night thing..didnt matter. They chased her into a nesting box and then outside after I opened the door..then the pacing and pecking continued. I am not sure who the head hen is..I kinda have two I think. Both I wouldnt mind making into dinner. They are getting a little too bossy even with me. All my girls seem to get along really well and there really isnt any fighting other than when I put her in. I think they were having a fight over who got to pick on her lol. thanks for the advice.