Introducing New Chickens...

[OBXChic]

is like throwing a new kid in a high school...I have one rooster and several hens..I am trying to introduce a new hen "Whitney" and she is being attacked by the other hens...maybe age difference maybe pecking order? Suggestions would be helpful..I have her seperated for the time being...

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Introducing one bird into an established group is the most difficult integration - the issue is that the existing flock has one target to zero in on, as opposed to if you were to introduce multiple new birds at once. The fact that your new bird has a head-dress is an added challenge as that is often an extra attractant to pecking *and* it impedes the bird with the head-dress from seeing the attacks coming/properly defending themselves. How old are all the birds involved and how much space, total is available for them?
One approach that works is to house the birds in a "look but don't touch" setup for a couple of weeks so that the new bird becomes a common sight vs. a novelty before allowing them to physically interact. This can be accomplished with cross fencing of a coop/run, a temporary second coop/run alongside or inside the existing setup or even a large dog crate inside the existing structure.

 

[OBXChic]

Thank YOU for your quick amazing response...That all makes total sense...I can work with that..they have a HUGE Coop 10' x 12' split in half...