Introducing new bird

[Wsage_TinyDinosaurs]

I need help integrating a new chicken.

I have a group of 7 that I saved. There were 8 but two started crowing so they had to go live on my brothers farm. Where we are we are not allowed to have any Roos. When we gave him the males, we took one from him that needed a little rehabbing (hopefully a hen). My brothers land is much bigger with many more birds free range and not. This bird was from the same place that I saved my original 8, my brother took 12 when we saved them. They are all about 10-12 weeks old now.

She was in a pin with other chickens of variety breeds, they all got bigger and she did not. Also the other birds were aggressive and pulled most of her feathers out. I think she was having to compete for food and that is part of why she hasn't grown well and her feathers look bad. My brother having so many, wanted her to have some more individualized attention.

She is a sweet bird that wants to be social with people and follow me everywhere but she doesn't want to socialize with the other chickens at all. This is a problem as I need her to be in the run or nest area when I go to work to stay safe from predators.

I have kept them separated but where they have access to each other through chicken wire for a week. About an hour each day I go sit with them all grazing the grass. She always stays where I am in between her and the other birds.

When I try to integrate her in the pin or run the other hens go after her and cause quite a fuss. I understand pecking order and tried with the whole "tough love" thing leaving them be to sort it out.... but it never sorts out. She screams and screams and then keeps her self separate and wont go near food or water if other birds are there.

Today I separated the top three in pecking order and put the new bird in the run with the lower three (the silkies). It put the "Popular girls" in a little stress, but I am hoping she will learn to gently socialize with the more docile birds and then will do better with the bossier ladies later. ??thoughts, ideas?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

You could get a separation pen, put it inside the coop, and leave her in their for about one week, so that she can see the other hens, and get used to them, but they can't get to her, and boss her around. Make sure she has food and water in her private pen. Once you have begun moving her with the rest of the flock, only let her with them at night for a while, then slowly let her stay with them later and later into the day, until she is with the others 24/7.

 

[Mrs. K]

Actually, I think your plan is a good one. Introducing a single hen is a tough one to do. This way, you will be introducing groups to groups. If you keep the "top" birds out of the Home coop/run, letting the weaker birds stay there, that will give them a bit of home team advantage when you again try to mix them all together.

Be aware, that some birds are more prone to being a victim, sometimes it just will not work with the flock you have.

Mrs K