introducing new adult hens

[hillsboroughnb]

Hi,I couldnt find a thread about this,how do I introduce hens to other hens? They escaped and got in together and my hens attacked the new ones. They are now in same barn but seperated by wire wall. Help!

 

[Judy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803815/integrating-two-groups/0_20

You can probably skip the first part about quarantine at this point.

 

[hillsboroughnb]

All the hens were from the same place,just purchased a month apart

@Judy

 

[aart]

Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.
See if any of them, or the links provided, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens to flock.

Consider medical quarantine.

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. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

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 blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, 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 to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from bully birds.


Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock