Not sure what else I can do?!

[Bear1978]

Hey all!

I got a new hen to add into my existing 2 year old flock about a week ago.

The new addition is a hen that’s about a year old and my existing 6 hens are about 2 years old.

I did the whole “see no touch” routine for about a week but when I let the new girl out of the separate enclosure I still have a few jerk butthead chickens whole will go out of their way to get at her and attack her any time they see her! As of this morning the newbie is still on the roost as the others are roaming the chicken yard and chances are they won’t let her down to eat or drink.

I have two separate water and food sources, my chicken run area is 12x12 with plenty of things for the new one to zig and zag around to get them off her 6, but I’m just concerned she won’t come out to eat or drink as long as the couple jerks are pestering her..

I know integration of a new bird can take a few weeks im just worried she won’t be able to eat or drink anything before that time comes. If it ever does!

All I know is these chickens can be real
JERKS!

Any thoughts, ideas, advice?

Thank you!

 

[sourland]

Separate the more aggressive birds for several days, and then reintroduce them one at a time over a period of days. Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

Can you turn your original birds out of the set up? If so, do so, leaving the new girl in the set up. Or put the old where you had the new, and the new where the old are.

Next day, repeat, this allows the new to explore without being harassed.

3rd day, leave one of the non bullies in with her. There may be a dust up, but one on one, not 6 to 1.

repeat

4th day, add 1 or 2 more, leaving the most aggressive one out.

5th day let everyone out, watch carefully, I would expect it to go well.

 

[Bear1978]

So far, so good! She’s out of the separate enclosure and adapting to things as well as starting to integrate with the rest of the flock. There’s still the occasional squabble but they usually take place for a short amount of time first thing in the morning when they are out and about eating and drinking. But wiht two feeders and two water stations she’s able to juke and jive her way to get the food and water she needs and then finds a perch or place to chill out until the older girls start laying eggs in their nesting boxes and retire to the coop for a while. That’s when she has freedom from the others in the yard and enjoys a good dust bathe and unhindered access to food and water. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Separate the more aggressive birds for several days, and then reintroduce them one at a time over a period of days. Good luck.

Thats what i would reccomend to. Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

Adding a single bird is tough. You don’t ever let them out? Inside and outside can be a daytime speration.

if that won’t work try pin less peepers. Put them on everybody at first.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can you put food and water in the coop, at least temporarily?

I know a 12 x 12 run gives a lot of square feet for 7 chickens but it really doesn't give a lot of separation if a hen is standing in the middle. Clutter can help but this is an example of why integration usually requires more room than after they are integrated.

 

[KyCoop]

I had the same situation. 1 coop, 1 run, new single hen. I tried the cage the bully thing. I tried the cage the new girl thing. 6 months. It only got worse and worse to the point the bully was not letting the new girl in the coop at night. I had the opportunity to rehomed the bully and there is peace in the flock again. To be fare, the bully was also attacking other hens to the point of comb injuries with heavily bleeding hens. I have a zero tolerance policy on causing bloodshed. Pecking and short chases yes, that's normal.
It is VERY frustrating adding a single hen when you are limited on space being unable to add coops and runs.

 

[aart]

Maybe this will help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[Bear1978]

Update this morning- the new girl figured out how to get over the chicken wire divider and joined the others on the roost last night. When I got up this morning all the others were out pecking and scratching in the chicken yard while she was still hanging out in the roost alone. So I moved her back into the other part and put the nicer one back in with her this morning. No squabbling so far between the new and the old lol