Introducing new hen's

[grinz]

I have just introduced 6 new 12 week old hen's into my established 1 1/2 year old hen's coop and yard. She is of course establishing the "pecking" order (literally) and has become quite vocal and animated around her new family. She tends to sit on her nest much more and has not had her laying affected. I kept the chicks in an adjacent yard with a fence between them for about a week before I opened the gate and put them together. Any suggestions on whether this was the right way to do it ??? I do not have a rooster in the mix. I really don't need a chicken in therapy !!

 

[Happyladies21]

I hope you are having good luck!! Let me now what happens. One of our americauna chicks at 12 wks old got into the 1 1/2 yr olds pen and we didn't know it- my daughters friend came running and said there was a bloody chick in the pen. Well, she was pecked almost to death- head was limp when held- not moving. I almost told my husband to "do what he had to do". Long story short, she lived in our basement in the brooder for 5 weeks while she mended. She is now after 7 wks almost fully feathered and in with her 11 chicks the same age. She is now a loner, prefers our attention to that of her mates and would rather be by herself. Needless to say I am so afraid of putting them in together. They are still seperated!!

 

[chicksinthemachine]

I just put our 2 year old in with the little ones (born April 30) so far so good, but I kept a vigilant eye on them today until they fell asleep. Will see how tomorrow goes.

 

[lovelife]

It always seems to be such a hassle, but from many different "introductions" attempted, I think putting a small pen within the bigger one (with the newer hens in the smaller one) for about a week, then take them out of the pen and put them in the hen house at night worked best for us. They will still establish a pecking order, but not as aggressively. This is the least abusive way we've tried, so far. Good luck!