Introducing ONE hen to existing flock...

[buckaroo's wife]

I just "inherited" a Barred Rock hen that is the same age as my other 4 girls (3 EEs and 1 BO) - right now she is in a dog crate in the coop, so she can be seen/smelled/heard but not pecked at. How long should I leave her in? I let her out to free range last night and my other girls immed. ran over and started pecking her. How much fighting will it take to establish the "pecking order"?

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

I've been in the same spot. The one time I was successful was when I re-introduced the hen at night. Everyone was roosting and we just set her on the roost. There was some jostling for about a week, but no one was hurt.

Good luck!
-C

 

[buckaroo's wife]

Quote:
You said the "one time" you were successful....were there other times you weren't?! This hen I'm trying to add is sweet, and I sure don't want anything to happen to her

I do like the idea of trying them out at night. Thanks!!

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

I've had two other unsuccessful attempts. Both girls were great with people, one was a "found" chicken, and the other was the lowest in the pecking order. My flock seems to be a bit atypical, however, (which is why I didn't include the other times) in their lack of willingness to accept back even one of their own.

-C

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

No input, though I'm going to have to deal with a similar situation in a few weeks and am interested to see how your introduction goes. Just a friendly reminder to make sure and quarantine any new birds for AT LEAST a month before introducing them to your flock. There are dozens and dozens of threads on here of folks throwing a new healthy looking bird into the mix, only to end up with a coop full of sick birds.

Good luck!

 

[svalentine]

What will happen when we send 3 of our 15 chickens to live with someone else? We got then when they were a week old. But my husband told a friend he'd raise 3 for him till they were larger so he didn't have to have a brooder box.
Will the 3 miss their "sisters? Will they be accepted by they other hens the friend already has?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's too late for quarantine, but Buff has a very good article about integration. Scroll down a bit in the article.

Buff Hooligan’s Adding to your flock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

How much pecking and fighting depends on the individual personalities of the hens involved. Buff gives good information on ways to help improve the odds. My general rule is as long as they do not draw blood, they will work it out. It does require monitoring in case blood is drawn.

 

[Imp]

The last time I added to my flock, there was a lot of chicken screams 24/7 for a couple days; no blood thankfully. I finally had enough and pulled the head hen out and put her in quarantine for about a week. Helped tremendously.

Imp

 

[buckaroo's wife]

Good point about the quarantine Neeleys...I got this girl from the same person I just got my other 4 from a month or so ago. Do you think the month-long quarantine rule still applies?

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

I'm always a "more safe than sorry" and always quarantine regardless of the situation, but since you got them from the same place (and its too late now, regardless) you'll probably be just fine. Now where are the pictures of these fine feathered friends of yours?