Introduction behavior

[SarahInAlaska]

I just introduced 4 new hens to my flock and I'm not really sure about it. I started out with two austrolorps. When I introduced three white leghorns my largest Australorp unmediated pecked two of them pretty good and drew blood but then stopped pretty quickly. They've been together for a week and doing well. I just introduced these 4 and the big Australorp went for it. Two ended up cowering in a nest box and the third seemed to stand her ground and didn't get pecked much. The 4th is a blue silkie that nobody seems to even notice is there. I took the Australorp out to relieve her a bit of her pecking status but now my other one is being very vocal, but no pecking. One of the ones in the nest box appears to be panting. Is that just from the stress? She wasn't doing it before she started getting pecked at. How can I fix this? I have two more coming tomorrow and I feel like I'm making a total mess if introducing them.

 

[3 Chicks]

I don't know that I have any answers for you, but I am going through the SAME thing. I have one overly aggressive hen who is not accepting the new hen. My plan is to keep her completely separated for several days before introducing her again. You may find that adding more chickens is a distraction rather than a problem, too. Good luck