Introducing new birds

[Rhondakaine]

i could really use some experienced direction. I’ve had 7 free range Rhode Island Red hens for 4 years. This past summer we suddenly lost 3. One month ago I decided to add to my flock. A local man responded to my add with an Easter Egger and another Red, both 4 years old as well. I kept them in quarantine for 3 weeks in a greenhouse safely away from my flock. Other than showing signs of depression they were good so yesterday I moved them to a fenced off section of another greenhouse that is attached to the coop. This is where our flock hangs out in the winter. They were all very inquisitive of each other with safety of the fence. Today, I thought I would open a passage for them to come and go. Well, all hell broke lose. The Easter Egger was really aggressive with all the girls. She was fighting them all at the same time!! I put them back behind the fence. Calmed everyone down and tried again about an hour later. Same thing. My question is can this be done? And also is the Easter Egger too aggressive for these sweet little reds? Thanks

 

[coach723]

Integrating new birds can take time. I would leave the new ones in the separated area, where they can see but not touch, as long as it's safe to do so from predators, for a bit longer and try again. I usually take things pretty slow. It can take days or weeks, depends on the birds in question. I watch for any behaviors or posturing between the groups. If you feed both groups on their side of the fence close to the fence they will get accustomed to eating close together. When they aren't paying much attention to each other anymore, no posturing or raised hackles, it's time to try putting them together, under supervision. If it goes badly again re-separate them and give it more time. There WILL be pecking order spats, that is inevitable any time you integrate new birds into a flock. But they should be short and not murderous. Usually it's a peck and someone runs and that's it, sometimes if they are both stubborn it can be a hen boxing match, but still relatively short and someone usually gives. I don't usually interfere unless someone is really going to get hurt or blood is drawn. If the EE continues to be a bully you may have to integrate everyone else first and then try her later separately (my EE's are generally pretty mellow birds). That will make her the outsider trying to fit in rather than the boss, hopefully. But she may end up being #1 in the flock in the end. There really is no set time for how long it can take, it just depends on the birds in question. Hope that helps.

 

[Rhondakaine]

Integrating new birds can take time. I would leave the new ones in the separated area, where they can see but not touch, as long as it's safe to do so from predators, for a bit longer and try again. I usually take things pretty slow. It can take days or weeks, depends on the birds in question. I watch for any behaviors or posturing between the groups. If you feed both groups on their side of the fence close to the fence they will get accustomed to eating close together. When they aren't paying much attention to each other anymore, no posturing or raised hackles, it's time to try putting them together, under supervision. If it goes badly again re-separate them and give it more time. There WILL be pecking order spats, that is inevitable any time you integrate new birds into a flock. But they should be short and not murderous. Usually it's a peck and someone runs and that's it, sometimes if they are both stubborn it can be a hen boxing match, but still relatively short and someone usually gives. I don't usually interfere unless someone is really going to get hurt or blood is drawn. If the EE continues to be a bully you may have to integrate everyone else first and then try her later separately (my EE's are generally pretty mellow birds). That will make her the outsider trying to fit in rather than the boss, hopefully. But she may end up being #1 in the flock in the end. There really is no set time for how long it can take, it just depends on the birds in question. Hope that helps.

Oh, that really does help. I thought maybe I was going too fast but EE is so rambunctious, she’s dying to get out of the enclosed area. Pacing... but I will move their food to the fence line so they can see and eat together. I was actually thinking that. I’m a little bummed out though. The 3 we lost this past summer we’re super bullies, I mean off the charts. And an amazing thing happened. One little hen, I called her scamper because everyone chased her around, she wasn’t even aloud to sleep with the other 6, for 4 years! So sad. Well she is finally ‘in’. She sleeps with them and isn’t bullied anymore. She’s a different bird. She’s my favourite by the way. Anyway, I’m worried this EE is going to cause major grief again. They’ve been so calm. I read an article a couple of years back when trying to figure out what to do with theses bullies.(which I loved dearly anyway, they lived a charmed life) It actually started with just one but she was epic! And everyone followed suit. Anyway the article said it was better to cull a bully and get her out of there. I was shocked and thought how terrible. Now I get it. Although I could never do that I should definitely have tried othe4 methods that I read about, like what you mentioned for example. So much to learn. Thanks so much

 

[coach723]

You're welcome. Sometimes it's just an exercise in patience. Chicken logic often doesn't seem very logical to us. When you have a bully, sometimes separating that bird for a while, where they cannot see or hear the rest of the flock, resets the pecking order. And then try reintegrating that bird, same way as I said before, look but don't touch, they have to start from scratch and it will sometimes fix the problem. But there are instances where a bird ends up needing to be re-homed in order for there to be peace in the flock.
Experiment, and see what works for your flock. Recommendations are just that, and different things work in different circumstances. But patience can go a long way. Best of luck.