introducing new chickens to the coop

[donkee1]

We have five girls that are about 3 years old, I just acquired 9 more hens about a year old -- any suggestions on introducing them -- -ended up seperating them because they were fighting... didn't dare to leave them all in the coop tonight so the old girls are loose in the barn .

 

[Rich386]

We have five girls that are about 3 years old, I just acquired 9 more hens about a year old -- any suggestions on introducing them -- -ended up seperating them because they were fighting... didn't dare to leave them all in the coop tonight so the old girls are loose in the barn .

That is almost always the problem. Your hens are a flock and the new girls are looked at as a threat. What works best is separate them in the same space. Where they see each other but can't get at each other. After a week or so they will be accepted.