Welcome to BYC!!
While they are in the run she is fine but when they go in the coop at night it is about a thirty-minute struggle to let them through the door! So my question is... Is this normal, is this "establishing the pecking order," is do I need to do something about it?
Roost Time is the most contentious time of the day for pecking order issues,
even for well established flocks but especially during integration.
As long as the new birds do get into the coop to roost, let them work it out.
Having separate roosts for the new and old can really help.
Too late maybe but might help you understand what's going on....
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.
