Older hen is being a B

[Deana Ward]

Hi Everyone! I'm just hoping to get some helpful feedback from folks more experienced than I. I have a 3 y/o EE who recently lost her coop mate (a buff Orpington) to a predator. I was worried about her being lonely & cold while roosting so I purchased a darling 10 month old Chocolate Orpington. I put the new hen in at night in the small hen house/roosting area with my EE. The next day she was relentless & stressing out the new hen...I know establishing pecking order is natural but it's been 3 days (I have intervened by putting the new hen in a crate with food/water/straw just so she get a little rest & nourishment). How long does this behavior typically go on? Should I get a 3rd hen so the focus isn't exclusively on the new Orpington? Thanks SO much for any help!

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Hi Deanna... You may have a jealous EE hen but if the other is not giving her a hard time my guess is about a week for them to fully adjust.
Why not introduce yourself in the new member forum?

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

If it is possible to section off part of the area where the two hens can see and hear each other for a while, about a week to ten days that would help.If it were possible to remove the establish hen for about a week it would also help. They forget fairly quickly and its like putting both hens on neutral ground. The way your situation has played out is tough, and almost always goes as your experience. To answer another question, it is better to put more than one hen as new flock mates . However it needs to be two hen that already know each other or the fighting will be worse. I started my new pullets and new Cockerel off in a new coop and run that neither was Familiar with and didn't have any problems.

My 3 old girls that are together now started off 1 established and 2 new that knew each other. they were separated by hardware cloth divider for a month. when I first put them together there were fights for 2 days that I refereed and then only at night when they went to roost. Some pecking and establishing dominance for about 5 mins. Now, thankfully nothing. Start to finish about 3 months.

The way you have started has a very low success rate unless there is plenty of room or they can free range. Separate them if possible. Good luck..

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!
Even tho your one bird may be 'lonely'...most birds do not welcome 'strangers' with 'open wings'. Integrating a new bird can go smooth ....or not.


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Deana Ward]

Hi Deanna... You may have a jealous WE hen but if the other is not giving her a hard time my guess is about a week for them to fully adjust.
Why not introduce yourself in the new member forum?

Thank you Bonnie!

 

[Deana Ward]

Hi Deanna... You may have a jealous WE hen but if the other is not giving her a hard time my guess is about a week for them to fully adjust.
Why not introduce yourself in the new member forum?

Boonie I mean

 

[Chickassan]

I'm going to be truthful it might take months for your older hen to even slightly like your new addition so get ready for a looong process. @aart has all the absolute necessities nicely laid out. Just know its normal, awful to watch but normal and only intervene if you see blood. Good luck!

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Boonie I mean

WE I mean... Darnit!!
No... E E !
Can't. Figure. Out. How. To stop the auto correct on my ×$!#*€@$! Phone.

By the way I got 2 hens from same place when all I had left was my EE. .. She's getting along but has relinquished her throne... Been a few months. She misses out on a lot of goodies the other 2 snatch from her every chance they get. Am working on that in the obedience and training thread.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

WE I mean... Darnit!!
No... E E !
Can't. Figure. Out. How. To stop the auto correct on my ×$!#*€@$! Phone.

By the way I got 2 hens from same place when all I had left was my EE. .. She's getting along but has relinquished her throne... Been a few months. She misses out on a lot of goodies the other 2 snatch from her every chance they get. Am working on that in the obedience and training thread.

 

[MrsMistyReal]