new chicken to flock

[firefighterwife]

question- i have a flock of 4 hens and 3 roosters I was given a younger hen of a different breed,when I introduced her to the flock the roosters were aggressive toward her. I keep her in a seperate cage now and let her out during the day but if she gets close to the fence the roosters charge it. what should i do? I am looking for homes for the roosters should i just keep her away from them until they are gone?

 

[Texasboy4ever]

Putting a new chicken in a pen with other chickens, roosters or hens is a problem. They are not part of the flock and are not welcome. I have never had any luck putting them together like that

 

[KKatknap]

I think it will definitely help if you can find homes for your roos. Even after rehoming one or two, it might help, because you will already have disrupted the flock by subtracting them. It does take time, though, and a lot of patience. Are you able to keep her separate, but close to the others for a couple of weeks...so that they can gradually get used to her? I do this, and it helps.

I haven't integrated a flock with roos, though...so it may be different with them. Hopefully someone who has done this successfully can chime in.

 

[Texasboy4ever]

The only time I have had good luck is when I put my Rhode Island Red Rooster in with a fairly young flock of hens they were all about the same age so he didn't attack any of them as soon as I put him in. I have put young chicks together from two hatches one after the other and they had no problem. I did find the younger the chicks the more they except other chicks about the same age

 

[silkieowner]

darn it i hope my new silkies will be alright as i put them in with my other chooks straight away, There roughly the same age maybe a bit younger my new silkies are 14 weeks old 1 week younger then my other silkies but older then ISA browns. The oldest chickens that are in the pen are roughly 5 months old.

 

[Texasboy4ever]

I would just watch them silki and see if there are any signs of pecking But they may be fine