Introductions

[Heatherlou]

Hi, new chicken mum!
I had a lone chick that lived in the house, introduced 2 others of the same age at around 8 weeks, bit of pecking but didn’t last long and they’ve been fine ever since and living out in a coop and large run.
I recently adopted a 6 month old silkie who was also a loner and living in a house. I introduced them through fencing and all seemed ok but when I let her in with the younger ones she pecked at them and chased them a couple of times, I’ve separated them again so they can still see each other. The young ones are about the same size if not bigger than the silkie. Do you think they’ll eventually get along?
I’ve read a lot on putting young ones in with older but can’t see anything for doing it the other way round! Thanks!

 

[aart]

I’ve read a lot on putting young ones in with older but can’t see anything for doing it the other way round!

It's pretty much the same.
But you might try putting all the existing birds in the smaller enclosure, while the newbie checks out the main coop and run. Swap them back and forth every few hours and/or mix and match old and new.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might these 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/

 

[Heatherlou]

Thank you for that, I’ll have a good read. It’s the new single one that being a bit bold with the 3 existing ones so hoping they’ll sort it out with minimal fuss!