Well as you may know a couple says ago we lost a chicken when it drown in the pool leaving two, so yesterday we got another and today she was hesitant to come out to free roam just as the others were when they were new but she isn't tagging along like the original three would and she seems a little more scared and frightened by every thing around her. Is she just warming up to a new home? And maybe getting used to the new chickens?
definitely. I added 3 to my flock of 8 and those 3 refused to come out of the coop for well over a week or two. I tried bringing them out and they would just hide under the deck. I finally just let them go at their own pace. And about 2 months for them to free range with the others. I know it sounds like forever...but the 3 had each other also. So maybe for your one it won't take her as long to join up with the others. Good luck with your new Chook. And keep an eye on her near the swimming pools.
It can be really hard to integrate one bird into an existing group. You might want to pair her up with one of the others for a few days in a separate enclosure, and once they are getting along try reintroducing her with her friend. Single birds added to flocks are usually shunned or picked on by the others. Just as an aside, it is always a good idea to quarantine new birds for at least 2 weeks to make sure they are healthy before allowing them in with your flock, as they can carry infections that may infect your birds as well.
