Introducing two chicks to lone one year old hen

[Chirbuls]

I bought two chicks a year ago. They were always together and were the love of my life. They had an in house coop and would roam around the house all time. They grew up to be my best friends but
One of them died a few days back and the surviving one got depressed.
So we decided to get two new chicks today and tried to introduce them to our hen. It didn't go well.
One of the chicks would jump on our hen continuously and the hen would peck them in return.
Please guide me . What should i do? I am trying to keep them apart so the chicks can grow a bit but
I cant see my hen all depressed any more.

 

[Sammi_0411]

This is normal hun about 4 weeks ago even after 6 weeks of see but not touch approach my pullets were nt impressed with chicks constantly pecking at them but they finally settled their pecking order so far the only thing i can suggest is put the chicks in a cage in coop so hen gets used to them but cant attack them or try free ranging them all together but be there in case u need to step in hope gets sorted sorry for ur loss

 

[KarynVA]

I have no experience introducing chicks to hens, so I can't help there but I just wanted to say so sorry for your loss. That sounds like a very sad situation and I hope your hen perks up soon and accepts her new playmates.

 

[aart]

I bought two chicks a year ago. They were always together and were the love of my life. They had an in house coop and would roam around the house all time. They grew up to be my best friends but
One of them died a few days back and the surviving one got depressed.
So we decided to get two new chicks today and tried to introduce them to our hen. It didn't go well.
One of the chicks would jump on our hen continuously and the hen would peck them in return.
Please guide me . What should i do? I am trying to keep them apart so the chicks can grow a bit but
I cant see my hen all depressed any more.

Sorry for your loss, keep in mind tho that you are probably more depressed than the bird. Did your birds ever go outside?

Not sure how this will apply to indoor chickens,
but here's some tips about....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/