Older hens being mean to younger ones

[Evelyn63]

I have 3 hens that are almost a year old and I got 2 new hens that are 12 weeks old. I got the new ones about 3 days ago and the older ones are tormenting the young. The younger ones always hide below the coop then one of the older hens will go under there and chase them out so the other ones will attack both of them. Has this happened to anyone else? What do I do to stop them?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You have brought in intruders to the existing birds territory, so they are attempting to drive them out. A better way to introduce new birds is by side by side penning for a while. Either way there always some pecking and chasing which is normal chicken behaviors, so they aren't being mean, just following instincts.