Introducing new chickens to an existing flock

[SJEP]

I completely understand, I watched mine for 1 day then had to go back to work, but didn't see any behavior that made me uneasy leaving them out with the others. I introduced my 3 new ones to 4 hens and 2 7 month old pullets, so I understand the ratio. If you're that uncomfortable with it keep them separated for a while longer, then give it another try.

Thanks! I discoverd that the instigator is my RIR. When I put her in the look dont touch cage, everything changed. the old girls left the new ones alone. But, if I let her out the shenanigans start all over again. So, I think Im going to put the RIR in my isolation coop for a few days in an effort to reset the pecking order and go from there. Maybe if the group goes and pecks her butt for a change it will fix her nasty attitude.

 

[SJEP]

How big is your coop and run?

*Personally* I follow advice I was given for putting newbies into a see-don't-touch situation for a full week and haven't had any issues.

Hi 3killerbees! Thanks for the reply,,, what finally happend is that I discovered that the problem hen was my rhode island red, the little mensch. once she would start bothering the new pullets, then the others would join in. So, I locked her up in the look dont touch cage and the problem stopped. the new ones now settling down a bit and all seem to be getting along fine. But when I let the RIR out, she starts back up with her nastiness. so, Im going to put her in my isolation coop for a few days and see if I cant reset the pecking order and go from there. mabye if she gets her butt pushed around a bit it will fix her thinking.

 

[3KillerBs]

Hi 3killerbees! Thanks for the reply,,, what finally happend is that I discovered that the problem hen was my rhode island red, the little mensch. once she would start bothering the new pullets, then the others would join in. So, I locked her up in the look dont touch cage and the problem stopped. the new ones now settling down a bit and all seem to be getting along fine. But when I let the RIR out, she starts back up with her nastiness. so, Im going to put her in my isolation coop for a few days and see if I cant reset the pecking order and go from there. mabye if she gets her butt pushed around a bit it will fix her thinking.

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[Ruffled Feathers]

I just integrated two pullets (well almost done anyway).

Not saying this is right but it seems to have worked. I put the 10-14 week old pullets in a small coop and run right next to the flock’s run for two weeks. My girls don’t free range due to predators but I do let them out supervised for about 15-30 minutes each night. After a week (and no obvious sickness) I let them all out together. It took about a week before the big ones ignored the littles. Then I put them in together. After 24 hours, no blood and they are sharing food/water but the dominate hen will still peck at them when they get too close. I figure it will settle down before too long. I was prepared to put any bullies in the small coop for a day or two of time out if needed.

If I had to do over agin I would probably have integrated 3 or 4 rather than 2…..chicken math strikes again.

Good luck. It’s not my nature to let small things get picked on by those bigger but I know they have to work it out themselves.

 

[NanaK]

Sounds like you are working it out. Thanks great!

Just wanted to mention that after I do the see can't touch for about a week, I then shut the older birds in an area of the run that doesn't include the main coop. This way the newbies can check out the new to them run area and coop without being chased by the older birds. Late evening everyone goes back to their own area and coop. After a couple days of this I let them out one morning and see what happens.
My run is divided into paddocks with doors that I can section off areas but some netting could easily be put up/removed to do this in most runs.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I just acquired 2-14 week old pullets and 1-14 week old cockerel, I set up a seperate area for them in the run and already had a built-in brooder in the coop. They were delivered at 8am and went straight in the separate run area. I watched and only the lowest in the pecking order paid any attention to them, and after talking to the person I got them from (who suggested I just let them out and see what happened) I released them 5 hrs after I got them. There was some chasing and pecking and everyone wanted to get a look at these new folks, but no blood shed so I left it be. That night I put them in the coop and they went to bed. The next morning was the same as the day before but less intense and they put themselves to bed. By the fifth day everything was as if they were there the whole time and are now at the bottom of the pecking order, but everyone co-mingles and resects everyone else's space. This Sunday will be 3 weeks. I agree with @3KillerBs if there's no blood shed let it play out, supervised of course.

Supervised of course of the huge part! My chickens have halos when I'm around. As soon as I turn my back.......little horns pop out!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Supervised of course of the huge part! My chickens have halos when I'm around. As soon as I turn my back.......little horns pop out!

All the breeds I have are pretty laid back for the most part, and they've been through an integration about every 6 months since I started keeping chickens (all my other integrations have been with much younger chicks) so they're pretty well adapted

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Thank you! Great to be Back! The pullets are about 6 months old now and are actually a bit bigger than all or most of my original girls. I had them in a look dont touch cage about 6 days. No blood shed. First day went quite well, second day I realized there would be some pecking order establishment, and it was only just a couple being bossy,, third day, they all started to gang up on the new ones. I have three feeders and two drinkers in the run. I made sure the new pullets got to eat and drink at least 3 times a day. Finally I had enough and put the pullets back in the look dont touch pen last night. If it was just one or two being bossy, Id remove them and try to reset the pecking hierarchy but when its the entire flock now going after them, thats something I cant do, I only have 2 coops with runs. So thats why I put them back in the look dont touch pen.
Im willing to try any ideas anyone has.

I say no harm no foul… but I’m used too a very odd flock which has never been to agressive other then my youngest randomly chasing road runner away from the spot she’s in, almost like a game, my hens generally ignore the youngers now that they’ve established that they are the bosses, even my rooster freezes when he accidentally gets close to them, it took a couple days for my hens to adjust but there was never any bald spots, cuts or injuries of any sort with them. (Besides my old nasty agressive roo )

 

[Tucs]

Thank you so much for your post. I need similar advice. I have five adult hens free ranging on 5 acres. I have six four months old pullets in a separate coop with a nice fenced in run. They have been seeing each other for a little while. Today I let the pullets out of the run and soon enough one of the hens attacked one pullet and pulled feathers. At this point I separated them. Should I have let them figure it out???

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Thank you so much for your post. I need similar advice. I have five adult hens free ranging on 5 acres. I have six four months old pullets in a separate coop with a nice fenced in run. They have been seeing each other for a little while. Today I let the pullets out of the run and soon enough one of the hens attacked one pullet and pulled feathers. At this point I separated them. Should I have let them figure it out???

Actually I did have that issue with my hens… I got rid of the hen, Salt, who pulled out my new hens, Mira, feathers. But I do think they could’ve gotten past that, I think it’s more of get rid of the one encouraging the attacking but also no harm no foul, were they bleeding at all?


All of my chickens free range as well, they have our one acre and both my neighbors one acres (the neighbors feed them)