Poor Introduction

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kolhoff13

kolhoff13

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Hello all! I'm new to BYC and I'm taking this opportunity to not only introduce myself, but to get advice on what was a poor introduction of some new hens.

Here's the story...last summer we had four hens and one rooster. This year two of the hens and the rooster met an untimely end and we happened to come across a friend of a friend who was looking to rehome four of her hens (they appear to be Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns, two each). While getting ready to add them to our flock (that was now down to two - one Rhode Island Red and one that we're not sure what she is...a Silkie mix perhaps?) my DH decided against my suggested to remove the divider in the coop and threw all 6 hens in the coop together. That was last Monday (a week and two days ago) and our old Red has terrorized the new hens ever since. We had to put a make shift divider back in to the coop and when we let them out for the day the old girls hang out in front of the house and the new girls hang out in the back.

Is there anyway to undo what was a poor introduction? Is it just a matter of time? So far there hasn't been any bloodshed as Red has to only look at the new girls funny and they go running. But I'd really like peace in the coop so we can take the divider out and remove our redunant waterer and feeder to give them all a little more room.

Thanks!
Andrea
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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There is a pecking order in every flock with a flock leader and all the way down to the bird lowest in the order. And every bird must stay in his place within this order. You can't just throw new birds into an existing flock.

The proper way to introduce new birds, not only for their safety, but the the health of your flock from in coming disease, is thru keeping the new birds in a cage or fenced off area, but within the flock at all times. Everybody sees, nobody touches. The new birds are kept within sight of the original flock at all times for 3 to 4 weeks. During this time, much of this pecking order can be worked out from behind wire.

After a month of quarantine for disease and pecking order issues, you can release the new birds into the flock. There will still be shuffling but it shouldn't get awful violent. Watch them carefully that day and the rest of that week. And always intervene if it turns bloody.

Here is a nice article from our learning center on mixing birds into your flock...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Good luck with your new flock and welcome to ours!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows has given you some good advice, X2, keep the birds separated in the coop for a couple of weeks at least to let them mostly work out the pecking order through the wire, it will just take time.
 
Welcome to BYC
frow.gif
Glad you joined us! TwoCrows gave you good advice there. Best of luck!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, the best way to introduce chickens is the see but don't touch method with involves placing a barrier in between the two groups of chickens so they can't peck each other but are still around each other.

Do this for about a month or so and then start mixing. Watch them carefully and interfere if there is bloodshed.

Here's some more links too
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/06/integrating-new-flock-members-playpen.html
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/04/adding-to-established-flock-pullet.html
 
Hi, Andrea, welcome to BYC. Well, as others have stated, things might have been done differently, but as long as blood is not being drawn I would just give them time. Make sure that the new birds are getting enough to eat and drink (multiple feed and water stations may be necessary), and things will eventually settle down.
 
welcome-byc.gif
from Washington! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member:) In our flock, we have no pecking order!

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somad.gif
men just don't understand social graces. I'm sure no harm is done. Once your chicks grow up, old red may be the one hiding in a corner. She'll see she bit off more than she can chew. Just kidding, they will work it out and be fine.
 

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