new hens with old ones

[navella]

I will be getting four baby chicks in a couple days and I will only have one adult hen by the time the babies are ready to go outside .I'm worried that my old girl will not get along with the new girls and will pick on them .I know she will probably want to establish her spot as the head hen of the place ,but will she hurt them. Can anyone help?

 

[sumi]

She will probably bully them a bit at first, but the introduction would go easier if you can keep the chicks separate from her for the first few weeks and then let them free range together before putting them in the same coop. This will give her time to get used to them and them to her.

 

[cowsr4eating]

I agree about keeping them apart for a few weeks and you need to watch her carefully when you put them together. I learned a very painful lesson introducing a new hen in with about 5 older hens. My new one was almost full grown so I thought she would be ok. Put her in the coop at dusk and she was dead in the corner the next morning. I've since learned it's easier for me to introduce a larger number of new ones to a smaller number of older ones. Good luck!

 

[navella]

Thank you for your suggestions on mixing my new chicks with my old girl. I,ll see if it works.