Need advice putting 16 week old in with coop with other hens

[Missouri 17]

Next week my hen will be 16 weeks old and will be put in with my other three hens. (2 red sex link, 1 black sex link). I did have three chicks and made the mistake of putting them togehter at 8 weeks, the big hens killed two.

This was after I had their pen next to the big girls for 2 weeks, they had an "escape" area, etc.

My almost 16 week old hen has been living next to the big coop since she was 8 weeks old and moved into the coop at night in a cage next to the big girls. They still try to peck her thru the wire and I am nervous about putting her with the big girls.

My plan is to sneak her into the coop in the middle of the night and put her on the roost with the big girls. Does this really work? I can't see me doing it without waking the big girls but I'll do my best.

Do you think they will kill her at 16 weeks like they did her sisters at 8 weeks?

I plan on monitoring them closely when the sun comes up but am VERY nervous about this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Grog]

I she close to the same size? If she is close she should be OK. And I have found the midnight add to be very effective.

 

[Judy]

Another method is to turn them loose and distract them with treats in an area that has hiding places. Since this is during the day, you will be there to monitor.

 

[Missouri 17]

Quote:
They are the same size. What do you do at midnight? Just plop them next to the big girls?

 

[johnson215]

wow! i guess i've been lucky this hasn't happen to me.. i always integrate my new ones: :

with the older ones probably about 3 or 4 months. my hens are really docile.. they all do really well and look out for each other. there is plenty of room in my coop and run so they can stay out of each others way:

.. my bantam rooster seems to keep the peace...even my bantams are with the regular hens. always been like that... hope it stays that way i have a new batch being delivered on friday...

 

[Jewels1935]

Idk and I can't help other than maybe adding her when she's around the same size? I have an evil hen that peaks at my chicks and mama is scared of her! So she doesn't defend them with her. It's really a judgement call. I agree with the treats though!

 

[rmh0508]

I have been adding a lot of chickens to my group lately and I have found that putting the new ones in once everyone else has went to bed helps a lot. If I am adding young chicks I have a dog crate inside the coop and I look them in there for a few days. My Cochin Bantam pullets are not the most welcoming so this seems to help until the girls settle down

 

[mommto3kiddos]

I like the add her in with a bunch of treats and food more than the sneaking her in at night, but thats just me.. My girls seem to be more accepting with a full tummy.. Oh wait maybe thats me

 

[h.woods54]

Someone once told me to keep her in a small cat like carrier in the coop for a day or two, then take the older hens and keep them in a crate for a day to get the new chick use to the coop, then let them great each other in the coop and what-not. I'm not sure if this works though, I've never actually tried it. I have enough room for one more chick and am getting one from a friend in the spring time. She offered her experience to me and suggests that I do this.

 

[Grog]

Quote:
They are the same size. What do you do at midnight? Just plop them next to the big girls?

Sry was AWOL for a bit.... Yes I just stick them in at night and in the morning no one seems to even notice.

Right now my chicks are in a grow out pen around the hens, sometimes they hop the fence and the girls dont even seem to notice them

I think lots of chicken behavior is space related. Less space=more aggression.