New Adult's will not socialize nor go in coop ????

[thompsonjoe]

My chickens have always been penned. Good size area. Live in upstate NY

Recently I was gifted 3 adult layers that were free range and they refuse to enter the coop and stay on a perch most of the day, Just before sunset they go down to eat. They have come down to lay eggs in dirt and then go back up.

Been a week now and no change. Came home this evening and there they are perched in the pouring rain....

suggestions ??

 

[cafarmgirl]

How long did you give them to get aquainted with your existing birds through a fence before putting them in with them? If you popped them right in with the existing flock they are probably getting bullied quite a bit so they are afraid to come down from their perch or to go into the coop. And rightfully so, chickens hate newcomers with a passion and without a slow introduction through a fence, a week or so is good though sometimes it takes longer, new birds can get pretty brutally attacked as well as chased away from food/water and roosts.

 

[thompsonjoe]

How long did you give them to get aquainted with your existing birds through a fence before putting them in with them?  If you popped them right in with the existing flock they are probably getting bullied quite a bit so they are afraid to come down from their perch or to go into the coop.  And rightfully so, chickens hate newcomers with a passion and without a slow introduction through a fence, a week or so is good though sometimes it takes longer, new birds can get pretty brutally attacked as well as chased away from food/water and roosts.

 

[thompsonjoe]

They free ranged around my coop for almost a year. The only bullying was done by my tiny Bantom rooster.