introducing new chicken issue

[chalet girl]

Hi all,

I've done a quick search but can't find answers that suit the current situation in my flock. I have three hens and a rooster. They are an established flock with a solid pecking order. I wanted to introduce three new girls but...

I have three new hens, one is from a different place than the other two. The two new girls are beating up on the third younger one. (No blood but the little one is so tired.) I put them all together last night after dark on the roost in my quarantine/new girl pen.

I wonder, should I put all three of the new girls in the main coop tonight after dark? Won't the rooster sort things out? Does this even work?

Should I leave the three new girls to work things out?

Maybe I could put the three new girls together with the rooster then introduce the flock?

Maybe I just need to tough it out and let the new girls stay together inside the enclosure but have the flock free to roam (as usual) outside?

The main run has LOADS of room and hiding places for the little girl. The quarantine area is pretty small with no hiding places.

How I got into this mess is another story...it involves people selling birds with problems and me running back and forth returning birds that shouldn't have been sold in the first place.

Thank you for any help you can give.
Delana

 

[Chicken101-07]

Roosters tend to not get in the way when hens are figuring out their pecking order,if you have some type of cage you could put the new ones inside.the cage inside the coop so the other ones can see the new ones but can't attack them,leave them for a few weeks in,there shouldn't be as much fighting,if you just put them in at night,in the morning,the ones with established pecking order will attack the new ones.good luck

 

[chalet girl]

Could I put the rooster in with the new girls for a time? The others would still be on the other side of the fence.

My real worry is for the girl that's getting picked on in the 'new' group. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have them grouped together but, imo, she's better off with a couple of new girls than on her own even if there has to be some pecking involved.

 

[aart]

The rooster is not going to solve this problem for you.
Sounds like you need 2 separate but adjacent enclosures next to the main flocks enclosure.
You may have to juggle(mix and match) the new birds to get them together before introducing them to the main flock.

It's going to take time (weeks) and patience and diligence.

 

[chalet girl]

Thanks and you're right. It's hard watching the little one get picked on and, as I mentioned, normally I wouldn't have this particular dynamic but it's just the way it worked out so I'll have to do my best with it. They seemed to be getting along better today. Less pecking and the little one isn't trying to hide in the coop all day.

I do have plans to put a barrier up or use a wired dog crate if I see the little one needs a break.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The best way is as @aart said, at least in my experience. I kept pullets next the big flock in separate enclosures that shared a fence between them. When they were 16 weeks old they were moved to the big flock's coop at night. There was some kerfuffle, which was mild and largely over after a week.

 

[aart]

Thanks and you're right. It's hard watching the little one get picked on and, as I mentioned, normally I wouldn't have this particular dynamic but it's just the way it worked out so I'll have to do my best with it. They seemed to be getting along better today. Less pecking and the little one isn't trying to hide in the coop all day.

I do have plans to put a barrier up or use a wired dog crate if I see the little one needs a break.

Might also try putting the 2 in the crate and let the little one have reign for a while.
Then add one of the 2 with the little one, see what happens.
Just keep swapping them out and around to disrupt the territoriality aspect.
What does the coop and run of these 3 look like?
Pics would help.

Clutter things up in run for distraction and 'hiding' places.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[chalet girl]

Might also try putting the 2 in the crate and let the little one have reign for a while.
Then add one of the 2 with the little one, see what happens.
Just keep swapping them out and around to disrupt the territoriality aspect.
What does the coop and run of these 3 look like?
Pics would help.

Clutter things up in run for distraction and 'hiding' places.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Yes, did crate the two of them then let one out with the little one. They are all getting along pretty well now. They have met the others and have been sharing water and food through a fence. Things look pretty good now. Thanks everyone for the support and advice!