New chicken- not ideal situation

[alinas2010]

It is a little bit of a long and hard process to integrate a lone hen, but don’t be discouraged, it can be done. You just will need to have a lot of patience and enough time to dedicate to it. I do agree that space may be the only issue I foresee.

I integrated a lone hen from our neighbor into our flock of 4 hens; it took about 12 weeks for them to fully accept her to the point where they would not attack her any time she came around and she stayed bottom of the pecking order. The key for us was to set up time for her to be alone in her new surroundings so she could gain confidence in them, and therefore confidence in herself to become part of the flock.

We did utilize the see-no touch method with a wire dog crate for a few weeks along with giving her an hour or so to herself in the mornings in either the run, coop or yard while the others were in the opposite area. This gave her a chance to explore, eat, dust bathe, etc. in peace (get to know and gain confidence in her surroundings). Same thing in the evening, an hour or so in the opposite space solo then she would roost with them after dark. Keep this up for a few weeks and slowly let her free range with them, you’ll see that they’ll begin to allow her to come closer and closer to them. Eventually she’ll come out of the coop in the mornings with them. Soon it’ll be like she’s one of them. Just have patience and be vigilant for her. Remember that everything is new to her. She will get bullied any way you go about this. But don’t just throw her in assuming the bullying will work itself out.

If you have time to commit to integrating her, it can be done. good luck. The solo hen I integrated is my sweetest and most favorite hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We did have her in a dog crate next to the run for a day before bringing her into the run with the baby gate separating her (that she and they can jump over, so it was sometimes touch) but I do believe this is why it’s been hard. Unfortunately there isn’t a backup plan- i am sure the friend would take her back if it doesn’t work out but she’d likely be back in the original situation, alone in her own coop. My girls (so far, and knock wood) haven’t full on attacked and drawn blood, but we do have some existing problems of our own (feather eater) and they are going after her to peck her when she’s near food or water- I was hoping it was just a poorly going pecking order establishment. Totally not ideal at all but we wanted to help

As others have mentioned a see-but-no-touch period should be more like 1-2 weeks, so that's the first consideration.

Any possibility of either expanding the run (at least double, not just a couple feet) or adding a run extension that might not be as predator tight but would still give them extra space, i.e. movable electric netting? If you already having feather picking issues I think you're only going to see more behavioral problems pop up now that space is even tighter.

 

[NewAtThis8]

An update for anyone invested- “crispy” seems to have integrated now. We did the see but no touch method for another week and then i started putting her in the coop with them at night. She seems to have pal’d up with my little spicy RIR and tonight she went into the coop herself with the rest of the group (vs staying out when everyone else goes to bed to eat and drink). Also doesn’t get pecked or pushed out when treats are given. Interestingly, there have been little spats between the OGs that don’t even involve crispy, I’m guessing maybe it’s the pecking order being re established. Either way, I am tentatively hopeful that we’ve made it through the worst of things! Also I’m at my chicken max, lol. Thanks again for everyone’s advice and support!