Introducing One new chicken

[susierw]

Hi there,
I have five 8 week old chicks (a Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Cochin, and 2 silkies) and we have been looking for a white chicken to add to this...I have been offered a 30 week old white Wyandotte hen. I'd love to know your opinion if you think this would be okay? Or is the hen likely to attack the chicks due to the age and size gap? Don't want my little ones put at risk!! At the moment they live in a outside coup most of the day and night but we let them out to roam in the vineyard for about 4-5hours a day when we are home. Thanks

 

[Pork Pie]

I would not imagine that there should be too much of a problem, providing your coop and run are sufficiently large. Space and places of refuge for the chicks are key factors. Ensuring that you have multiple feed stations and places for the chicks to escape the attentions of the pullet should help. If you can make some kind of "safe area" for the chicks, i.e. a place where they can escape to, but the pullet cannot, then it would be great.

These link may also give you additional ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

 

[CoopintheWoods]

Ditto!

Also, you may want to wait a week of two until the chicks are just a bit bigger.

 

[susierw]

Ok thanks for the tips! The lady selling said the chicken was hen raised so hasn't been handled much..do you guys think you can teach an old chooks new tricks and make her 'handable' ie be able to pick her up
Without getting scratched to pieces?

 

[Pork Pie]

Lots of patience, spending time in her company (e.g. sitting with her and reading a book / listening to music, for example) and having some treats on hand will go some way towards helping. Some chickens, regardless of what you do will never like to be handled.