new 5 week olds with meek bullied hen?

[Dhkoenig]

Hi All - I just picked up some 5 week old babies today. I have them quarantining in my garage for 4 weeks. I have a hen who is SO bullied - she is extremely meek and at the bottom of the pecking order and I have to finagle situations where she can get food and water and at night sometimes they push her to the lower perch, when they are all at the top. Since her quality of life basically stinks, I am temped to try the canary in the coal mine method and just go ahead and introduce her to the three new 5 week old babies while they quarantine together. Is 5 weeks too old for her to get away with being their surrogate mom? She is NOT broody - just bullied to no end. Anybody know if this is a bad or a good idea? She is super super meek and timid. The three newbies are 5 weeks old, 1 barred rock and 2 easter eggers. They seem pretty rowdie already LOL

 

[All4Eggz]

If she is a full grown hen, it's not the best idea to introduce her to the 5 week olds. I would wait a few weeks, or maybe just introduce them all together with the entire flock.
If the hen is getting bullied, find the main bully, and cage her for a day. If this doesn't work, I'm not sure what else you could do.

Maybe @aart knows?

 

[aart]

Is 5 weeks too old for her to get away with being their surrogate mom?
.... Anybody know if this is a bad or a good idea?

Not a good idea.
Even if she was broody, 5wo chicks are too old to graft onto her.

Why is she so bullied?
Is she the same age as the other birds in the flock, or was she added later?
How many in that flock?

How do you plan on integrating the new birds?