Mistake Adding Two Chickens, Now What

[poseygrace]

Ditto on all above posts. Keep them. Put them on roosts at night. Watch for blood. Allow them to have a safe place to escape if possible. Good luck!

 

[BeccaSmith]

Just thought I would let everyone know that we went out after dark and took the two newbies out of the nesting boxes and closed them up and placed them on one of the roosts and all seems to be well!

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Mine are 2 weeks & 1 month younger than my main flock, and they were all pullets when I integrated them. I fenced off a area of the run for 3 weeks, so everyone could see each other. Then I opened one side, so the 5 youngers could venture out, but had a safe place to hide if they were picked on. This was July 4th weekend, now here we are in Dec. and they are still the bottom of the pecking order. My younger 5 huddle together in one corner of the roost, while the other 10 spread out, no hard pecking & no blood. But my 5 know their place, but still get chased from time to time. Just make sure they have a safe place to hide, and give it time.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
I agree! I always provide little nooks, crannys and certain nests to newbies or youngins just getting out on their own without mama hens protection. I brought in a hamburg hen over the summer who had lost all her flockmates to a predator because they free ranged on 40 acres. After quarentine time was over (30 days minimum here) She was introduced to the flock at night. She is still having troubles fitting in but at least she has places to hide and find food/water where she won't be picked on by the others. Sometimes it takes awhile before they hatch things out. They may never fully get along per say but they will learn to live with each other.

ETA dog crates work well to give them some space away from the others and keeping their mess contained for easy clean up.

 

[Stephanie739]

Quote:
That is what I wondered. I wouldn't be concerned about using nesting boxes properly at this point. I would let the new chicks have access to any place they are secure.

 

[Stephanie739]

Quote:
I agree! I always provide little nooks, crannys and certain nests to newbies or youngins just getting out on their own without mama hens protection. I brought in a hamburg hen over the summer who had lost all her flockmates to a predator because they free ranged on 40 acres. After quarentine time was over (30 days minimum here) She was introduced to the flock at night. She is still having troubles fitting in but at least she has places to hide and find food/water where she won't be picked on by the others. Sometimes it takes awhile before they hatch things out. They may never fully get along per say but they will learn to live with each other.

ETA dog crates work well to give them some space away from the others and keeping their mess contained for easy clean up.

I am using a dog crate within my coop now to integrate my 6 week old babies into the flock.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Quote:
That is what I wondered. I wouldn't be concerned about using nesting boxes properly at this point. I would let the new chicks have access to any place they are secure.

I don't want them stepping on the eggs and breaking them and also tracking manure into and pooping in the nesting boxes that have been getting all over the eggs since they have been sleeping and hanging out in the nesting boxes....that is unsanitary!

 

[BeccaSmith]

Quote:
That is what I wondered. I wouldn't be concerned about using nesting boxes properly at this point. I would let the new chicks have access to any place they are secure.

I don't want them stepping on the eggs and breaking them and also tracking manure into and pooping in the nesting boxes that have been getting all over the eggs since they have been sleeping and hanging out in the nesting boxes....that is unsanitary!

What type of a dog crate, like the metal cage style or the traditional dog crates that are made of plastic with the vents on the side and a metal door? A dog crate seems like a great idea!

 

[teach1rusl]

I'd probably give it another 2-3 weeks as well. But stressed hens hiding out in the coop all day isn't normal "happy" chicken behavior. So if things don't start to get progressively better soon, I'd rehome them, looking for someone who has a farm and free ranges. Free ranged birds seem more accepting of newbies to me, probably because there's just so much space to stay out of one anothers way. And different birds react differently toward newbies too. My own original flock has reacted differently to newbies I've brought in before...more accepting of some than others for some reason. But as others have said, do watch for severe bullying and intervene immediately if needed.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Quote:
Thank you for the advice! I'll keep an eye on things as much as possible. Hubby has the week off and has been home during the day, he said he saw the two newbie's outside dust bathing the other day....that is a good step forward in my opinion. I'll give it a few more weeks and see how things go!