Introducing Pullets to a single Hen

[alyreed]

Hello!

I had 3 backyard chickens which, in a matter of weeks, went down to one due to a hawk and a coyote I have been raising two chicks inside and they are 8 weeks old now but not quite ready to go outside yet. I am worried about my hen who lost two of her friends and her being lonely and unprotected (I'm in Colorado and it gets cold at night).
Couple of questions:
- Will my hen be okay alone for a few weeks until the chicks can start being outside with her 24/7?
- If not, would she be more inclined to welcome a new hen faster if I were to adopt another hen (or two) in the next couple of days?
- Will she be more welcoming of the pullets when I introduce them?

Thanks for any help or advice!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally integrate chicks at 6-10 weeks as they are accepted quicker than older birds which are see as intruders. Your hen will be fine, but you could start to get her familiar with seeing the chicks if possible. I don't know what kind of set up you have. Can you divide it up temporarily? What are cold temperatures to you?

 

[townchicks]

So much really depends on their personalities. I feel that plenty of time in a look but don't touch confinement is best. Since the babies are not yet ready to go outside, maybe you could do some introduction inside, with you hen in a large dog crate. Another option would be to use this time to build a separate enclosure in the coop for the new girls, for the introduction period. Or both. Just don't throw them together.

 

[Mrs. K]

Your babies are old enough to go outside. Start with taking them out a couple of hours in the warm part of the day, and leaving them out there a little while as it cools off. Then bring them back in. Extend the time each day and within 3 days, they could stay out in the coop and be fine all night.

No, she will not like them, but it will be best for all of them. Try putting the old girl in your yard, or in your house, and putting the chicks into the coop/run set up for a couple of days. This will allow the chicks to explore the area, find the hide outs, the feed bowl, and water without being chased for their lives. Being as they have been kept inside, I am assuming a small space. It will take them awhile to get used to more space, and at first will not explore much. Let them be and figure it out on their own terms.

Do take a look at your set up, is there roosts, little mini walls, hideouts, platforms that birds can get on top of or underneath? It will make the area look cluttered, but it will be much more interesting to the birds, and it allows them to get away from each other. One way gates, are very helpful with this. This will allow your smaller birds to escape to a safety zone where the bigger bird cannot chase them. I set it up, and then chase the chicks a little myself so that they realize that it is a safety zone. I have seen it where there is a small opening that only the chicks can fit in, or lifting a fence where as only the chicks can fit under. That one works best I think, as a smart, mean old bird can block off a gate.

If you can, having the older chicken on the outside of the pen, seeing the baby chicks on the inside of the set up can help. Feeding them along the fence can help.

After a few days of this, put them together just before dark. They will not be best friends until the pullets commence laying, then they will be one flock.

If you want to add another adult bird, then I would do it all at once, add the adult bird, and the chicks. Chickens hate change, better to get it over all at once.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Space is key here....how much do you have?
Dimensions and pics would help.
Are those 8wo chicks off the heat?

Here's some tip on....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock