Please help

[Thebossbaby]

i just put 7 new hens into my free range flock. They immediately stRted fighting, but after that they were fine. Then when I let them out of my coop into the open lawn the new ones separated from the old flock by lack 100 yards. Will they run away? Or will they stay here since they have gotten food and water from me already? Should I hurry up and go catch them?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Usually for a smooth introduction/integration it's advised to do a See but No Touch ... Put the new ones in a cage or section within sight of the established flock for a few weeks. I'd lock them up for the first few weeks. Only you know your chickens.

 

[Thebossbaby]

They are already out though... and since I got them today they don't know me and won't come to me. Not even with food. I just wanna make sure they don't run off

 

[Thebossbaby]

They were with the old chickens in the coop for about 6 hours so they have already fought.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Yes, I would round those chickens up. They have no idea where home is yet, even, and the old chickens are going to try to chase them off. When it comes time to roost, who knows where they'll decide to settle down?

Chickens need a few days to learn to recognize where home is, and a few days to recognize eachother as flockmates before you can begin to introduce them. Put them in a temporary wire pen near the chicken coop for at least a few days.

 

[keesmom]

You're probably going to have to round them up. A few hours is not enough time for them to have "homed in" on their new coop. Even if they have your resident hens will likely not let them in come roost time.

What are the dimensions of your coop? It would be a good idea to fence off part of it for the newcomers, so they can be seen but not harmed. They can also learn where "home" is too.

 

[MROO]

They are already out though... and since I got them today they don't know me and won't come to me. Not even with food. I just wanna make sure they don't run off

It's definitely Roundup time! You'll need to keep the new hems cooped in for a week, so they know where home is. Otherwise, they'll likely spread out and become easy fodder to your local predators.

Since they've already been exposed to your birds, you don't have to quarantine your new birds. You'll just have to keep your eyes open for health issues and hope for the best, there. You will, however, have to figure a way to divide the coop for about a week, so the two groups can see each other while the new girls learn where "home" is located. When you let your other hens out each day, give the new girls the run of the full coop, so they can get used to their new surroundings. When the first hens come back in to roost, put the new girls back in their section for the night.

Once your coop is ready, you can "funnel" the new girls directly in by building a triangle of temporary walls with the farthest point being the coop door. The idea is to gently and loosely (and without panicking them!) herd them into the wide end so they can go into the coop at the other. If you can't funnel them in, fix up a nice trapping corner. It needs to be someplace you can easily block off, like between two buildings or in an "ell." where two walls meet. You'll need some food (treats, like cracked corn, maybe?) and water already set up there, and a way to close it off. You can use cardboard boxes or some plywood, whatever you can pull together. It would help to have a crate to put them into, as well, so they don't get away while you catch the next one.

Good Luck!