LucyElle
Chirping
- Aug 11, 2017
- 26
- 15
- 64
Hi! I have been reading for DAYS about flock integration but my plans kind of got derailed and am in a situation where new hen panics if not in same run as other hens. Don't want to take steps backwards.... here is the situation.
All 5 hens have come from the same flock. We got the first four a few weeks ago and just added in the fifth. Prior to new hen being dropped off (they all belonged to a neighbor) I had a large dog crate next to the run so that they could meet without direct contact, which I read that this was important to do early on. Neighbor came and advised just throwing the new hen in and letting them work it out. I felt this was a bad decision but I am new to chickens and she has a large ongoing flock so I felt like she knew best. It of course did not go well. She was attacked pretty aggressively, charged and pecked and she was screaming and flapping and trying to get out of pen. As soon as neighbor left I took the new hen out and kept her in the crate separated over night away from the coop (new hen was dropped off at 5pm so the day was wrapping up).
Next morning I placed new hen in crate in the run where she stayed from morning til night. It was a rainy day so they all were huddled in the same area together pretty much for the full day. Again that night she slept away from coop in crate.
Third day, I brought her in crate down but new hen seemed like she very much wanted to get into the coop with the hens. So I allowed it. Main run is about 8 x 10ft and we have a chunnel to a bit larger run with lots of leaves and soil they like to dig around in. When I placed new hen in with flock they barely even seemed to notice her. Mild pecking here and there and they all preened together and dug for bugs without any drama at all except for a peck here or there. Come dusk, my four went into the coop and I planned on keeping new hen away again but she got really panicky and tried desperately to get in the coop with them. I figured I should let her go. I watched from outside and there was a good bit of bullying by all. Finally, new hen ended up on lower roost and other 4 on top (even the original hen that was the lower roost hen was on top). New hen fought pretty hard to get on the top roost but it never worked out for her.
This morning I went out before the sun came up to open the coop door so that drama couldn't unfold with nowhere for new hen to go. After they all came out, of course morning food and water pecking happened. I have multiple food and multiple waterer. She wasn't really allowed near any of them.
The original pecking order was rocked because they are all pecking each other now. No blood, nothing overly aggressive just some chasing and pecking towards new hen and a little bit at eachother. I wanted to separate them for a little so that new hen could actually get time to check out the nesting boxes without being bullied but when I send the other hens out, new hen frantically tries to get to them. It sure seems that being with the flock has taken priority over self-preservation.
So heres my question. At this point, and I know anythings possible, but is an all out blood bath attack more unlikely, or is it something I really still need to be alert for? I am behind on my work and cant hang out there babysitting all day again but I am worried she is going to be fully assaulted. Debating on adding the large crate back into coop and putting her in there for the day so she is protected but wondering if that is taking a step backwards with our progress.
Any advice would be great appreciated. Thanks so much!
Lauren
All 5 hens have come from the same flock. We got the first four a few weeks ago and just added in the fifth. Prior to new hen being dropped off (they all belonged to a neighbor) I had a large dog crate next to the run so that they could meet without direct contact, which I read that this was important to do early on. Neighbor came and advised just throwing the new hen in and letting them work it out. I felt this was a bad decision but I am new to chickens and she has a large ongoing flock so I felt like she knew best. It of course did not go well. She was attacked pretty aggressively, charged and pecked and she was screaming and flapping and trying to get out of pen. As soon as neighbor left I took the new hen out and kept her in the crate separated over night away from the coop (new hen was dropped off at 5pm so the day was wrapping up).
Next morning I placed new hen in crate in the run where she stayed from morning til night. It was a rainy day so they all were huddled in the same area together pretty much for the full day. Again that night she slept away from coop in crate.
Third day, I brought her in crate down but new hen seemed like she very much wanted to get into the coop with the hens. So I allowed it. Main run is about 8 x 10ft and we have a chunnel to a bit larger run with lots of leaves and soil they like to dig around in. When I placed new hen in with flock they barely even seemed to notice her. Mild pecking here and there and they all preened together and dug for bugs without any drama at all except for a peck here or there. Come dusk, my four went into the coop and I planned on keeping new hen away again but she got really panicky and tried desperately to get in the coop with them. I figured I should let her go. I watched from outside and there was a good bit of bullying by all. Finally, new hen ended up on lower roost and other 4 on top (even the original hen that was the lower roost hen was on top). New hen fought pretty hard to get on the top roost but it never worked out for her.
This morning I went out before the sun came up to open the coop door so that drama couldn't unfold with nowhere for new hen to go. After they all came out, of course morning food and water pecking happened. I have multiple food and multiple waterer. She wasn't really allowed near any of them.
The original pecking order was rocked because they are all pecking each other now. No blood, nothing overly aggressive just some chasing and pecking towards new hen and a little bit at eachother. I wanted to separate them for a little so that new hen could actually get time to check out the nesting boxes without being bullied but when I send the other hens out, new hen frantically tries to get to them. It sure seems that being with the flock has taken priority over self-preservation.
So heres my question. At this point, and I know anythings possible, but is an all out blood bath attack more unlikely, or is it something I really still need to be alert for? I am behind on my work and cant hang out there babysitting all day again but I am worried she is going to be fully assaulted. Debating on adding the large crate back into coop and putting her in there for the day so she is protected but wondering if that is taking a step backwards with our progress.
Any advice would be great appreciated. Thanks so much!
Lauren
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