Introducing new chickens to existing.

[samjaysca]

Hi,
On Saturday (25/5/2013) one of our chickens passed away, leaving us with one (Florence - who is around 3 years old). We got two POL pullets from the same breeder yesterday evening (he told us not to bother quarantining them). We were told to spray all chickens with perfume (so they all smelt the same), to fill the coop with stimulus (shiny things) and to pop the new chickens in the roost when Florence had gone to sleep. We did all this. This morning at 4am, there was a lot of commotion from Florence. Throughout the day Florence has chased the new ones into the roost and won't let them out.

How long should we give it before we decide it's not going to work?

If it doesn't work out would Florence be okay on her own? I am fully aware that chickens are social creatures and normally live in groups, but Florence has never been bothered, even with our original three, she always went off on her own, she didn't sleep with the others, etc. (she was never bullied, or henpecked into being alone).

Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry if this doesn't belong here, I'm new to this site! Thanks in advance!

 

[Rich386]

This seems to be a very popular subject. When introducing a new bird to the flock or trying to create flock. I hold them separate but where they can see each other for a few weeks.

 

[my sunwolf]

Give them plenty of room to run from each other. It takes days, weeks, sometimes even months for chickens to learn to get along with each other, especially with the kind of introduction you gave them. Their age difference should help some, as well as the fact that there's only Florence to defend the home flock. Trust me, chickens are much happier being miserable in a flock than they are on their own. You wouldn't know it, of course, but they are. At this point I would leave everyone be and only separate if you see blood.

 

[redneck farmer]

This seems to be a very popular subject. When introducing a new bird to the flock or trying to create flock. I hold them separate but where they can see each other for a few weeks.

X2 I'm doin that now!
(But its not working at all for me anyways but I think you should try it every chicken is different)

 

[my sunwolf]

Unfortunately it's almost too late to have them separate and seeing each other through a fence for a while as they've already met and begun to work out the hierarchy.

 

[samjaysca]

Thanks for all the suggestions. They seem to be getting along a little better today.