Is my hens behavior ruined?

[Chibbens104]

We used to have 4 hens running around the yard, until one of them died, and then another died, and then another died, and all thats left is my aggressive barred rock. We got new babies when we had 2 hens because when the third one died we were sad ofc. Bertha has gotten used to the babies and knows them but still actively pursues them. Then today we got a 4 month old new Hampshire red and introduced them and it...was...bad. i feel like she doesn't know how to be in a flock. I was thinking of giving her to my friends flock for a week so bertha learns her place and stops acting like a rooster. Is my hen ruined? Will she always try to protect herself because shes been alone for too long?

 

[Mrs. K]

No, she is not ruined, she is acting perfectly normal for chickens. However, you do need to solve for peace in the flock. Giving her away - is an option.

What does your run and coop look like. Smaller set ups can be tricky. Do you have hideouts, escape routes, roosts in the run? Can you do see, no touch?

Another idea is pin-less peepers which limits their forward vision, so they don't chase.

This is normal behavior, chickens do not like strange birds, and they do not like change.

Mrs k

 

[aart]

Then today we got a 4 month old new Hampshire red and introduced them and it...was...bad. i feel like she doesn't know how to be in a flock.

Putting a single bird into an established flock is not likely going to work out well.
How did you 'introduce' them?

How old are the 'babies' and how long have they been there?

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/

 

[Chibbens104]

Putting a single bird into an established flock is not likely going to work out well.
How did you 'introduce' them?

How old are the 'babies' and how long have they been there?

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/

The first babies we got, our hen has known those guys for about 2 1/2 months. They run around with each other when it gets really hot because my hen has control of the cool grassy area while my babies have the sunny dry side of the yard. The newest babies we ever got was yesterday and we introduced the biggest one (about 4 months old...3 months maybe) to her and it looked like 2 roosters fighting. Today i put bertha in a dog kennel in the babies cage so the babies will walk around her and she gets used to being apart of a flock.