We have 3 hens and a rooster that are about 6 months old. They free range all day and are giving eggs now. We added three more 4 month old pullets about a week ago, and they won't go more than 10 feet away from the coop. They grew up in a run and only ate when fed. How can I get them to go out and find some of their own food? We're feeding them crumbles, but not as much as we should, trying to get them to feed themselves. They still seem pretty scared of the older hens. When eating, if an older hen gets close, they run away. We try to feed them when the others are off somewhere else, but the older ones figure it out pretty soon and come in for dinner time. Since we added the new ones too, the older hens are not liking us anymore either. They won't eat out of our hands, are spooked easily, etc. Thanks.
With my own chickens, this is always how they act when I add new chickens. Just give them a little more time and they will go back to normal and the little ones will prolly start acting like free rangers soon. Every chicken is different but I have never had a chicken that didn't figure it out after a few days to weeks. Good luck!
What Elizabeth said. I'd keep giving them as much of the crumbles (switch to pellets maybe?) as they'll eat though.
