Need help with hens fighting....Weird situation

[Timbercrete]

I'm having trouble while introducing two new hen to a flock of 6 hens. My origional 6 hen are about 18 months old. I introducted two new (6 months old) hens and the fighting started. The new hen were very meek and mild. I had intruduced them via dog crate for a few day first and then snuck them in the coop one night. The old hens picked on the new ones for a couple days and had them cowering in the coop. i also noticed a couple day ago the the old hens started picking on one of their own. Now we had the two new hen cowering plus one of the old ones.

Now today I come home today and find the new hens seem to be getting along find with the old hens but the old hen that wa sbeing picked on is really beat up. All feather on her head are gone and her head is bloody. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

I have put the beat up old hen on the dog crate inside the run to isolate her so she can heal up. Any guidance would be thanked as I am lost.

Thanks,
Will

 

[Judy]

The one who has been pecked so badly apparently had some blood from previous pecking, and this caused the escalation. Normal pecking order can get out of hand quickly when there is blood.

Her is a good article on integrating new birds:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[midget_farms]

Its a pecking order thing - just because she was an old hen doesn't mean she will be higher on the order than the new hens.

Once blood is present the hens will do everything they can to kill the chicken. Its good you seperated her.

Once she heals up you can put her back in - but do it at night - way after dark.