Mature hens shunning my new pullet

[jamiebelle1207]

I wanted to add one more hen to my flock for a total of four, and decided on an Arcauna pullet because I wanted one to be around for a while. I'm not sure the age of the other three, but they are mature and laying.

Anyway, they have been mean to her since I introduced her. I have a relatively small tractor (it advertised as good for 4-6 but 4 seems to be as many as I feel good about putting in there) and they just shoo her into the coop part if she tries to come out. Last night I let them out to roam a bit just to give her a chance to eat a little. Fortunately they didn't shoo her OUT at night when it was time to go to sleep.

I'm also hoping she watches them drink from the nipple waterers and figures that out....two of the older hens learned from the one who had already figured it out in like a couple hours.

Anyway I guess I will leave her in the tractor while the others free range and give her some pellets then. I'm not sure what else to do. She's like a deer in headlights and they certainly aren't the welcome wagon!!

 

[aart]

One of the most difficult integrations is of a single bird into a small flock with small quarters. Perfectly natural for the existing hens to defend their territory. The fact that they let her roost with them in the coop is very lucky...along with I assume no serious blood being drawn.

Good idea to give her some time to eat and make sure she can use the nipples without being harassed. Multiple feeders and waterers are always good idea when integrating. Feeding treats/scratch when they are free ranging can help too....tho she may always be low hen in the pecking order.

Lots of different techniques and situations, try a search:
advanced search>titles only> integration

Best of Luck!

 

[iwiw60]

Yes, make sure it doesn't get bloody...

 

[abserbean]

I would say that lack of blood and letting her roost is actually a good sign, some pecking order reworking is to be expected. When I introduced a single hen to my flock of four, they would have killed her if I didn't intervene. I was never able to integrate, even after months, so I now have two coops. They can free range together, after about eight months, but that is a new development. I am still hoping for an eventual integration, but I learned the hard way that adding a single hen is never a good idea.

 

[jamiebelle1207]

They are actually doing much better now. They still chase her around the pen in the evenings before bedding down, but they free range together and they sleep together.

 

[123chickenmama]

That is normal to see when you introduce a new chicken,your other chickens are trying to figure out who is going to be the new boss, it is called the pecking order.Your new chicken had disrupted the old pecking order so the other chickens have to start a new order I have a lot of hens and roosters I see it all the time . If they are pecking her to severely you might want to park her in a metal dog cage so they can see her and get used to having her and not have to beat her up hope this helped .
Best of luck to you and your family