Introducing new birds with an existing brood

[Mother Hen 7]

We have a Barnfelder (Barney) and an Americano... (Sammy) We Just got 2 young NH Reds... We have been trying slowily (over a week) introduce them. We divided the pen with chicken wire.. Barney has been accepting over the week span. Sammy is not accepting them at all.. her neck feathers stand up and she is aggressive.. Will the Americano eventually calm down and be welcoming?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I normal do a see but no touch integration for 2-3 weeks. Then under supervision I take out the barrier, if all goes well... wonderful, if something goes wrong... the barrier get put back up.

 

[Mrs. K]

You might rearrange them, as in put the newbies where the old birds are, and old birds in the newbie pen. This lets them see each other in their territory.

You might feed along the fence, so that they have to come close to eat.

You should make sure that you have some hideouts, roosts, and ways to get out of sight before you add them.

You could also add the least aggressive bird to the young pair and get that group working. When you are sure that is good, then add the mean one.

Sometimes you will get a bird that is just impossibly mean. Sometimes a time out away from the flock for several days will calm her down, but sometimes that won't work either.

Then you need to solve for the peace of flock.

MRs K

 

[aart]

What are ages(in weeks or months) and genders of these birds?

Here's some tips about......
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I have successfully used this plan!