Scared hens

[Sabrina1988]

I have 3 smaller Easter eggers hens that should start laying any day now. I had to keep them separate from my bigger hens up until 2 days ago because they would get pecked until they bled. I was told let them free roam and that should help. (I have to lock them up at night due to nightly creatures around the area) I have let them all run free for 2 days now after 1 but the 3 smaller ones and scared to even come out of the area the have been raised in. How much longer should I give them a "safe space" should I just make them tough it out because for these 2 days the bigger ones haven't blinked an eye at them but at night they want to be locked back up so I am doing that. They are 23 weeks old so not babies by any means. But they are scared to free roam and stand right by the door to go back in but I lock them out until night and they drink and eat from the trough and water of my bigger hens but they want nothing to do with exploring.

 

[MaryZoe]

When I first got some new hens and introduced them to my flock, the hens did not want to leave their section (bin) of the coop (separated from others by rabbit wire). I let them decide when to leave and when to stay in. Eventually they decided to explore as well as my others. I open the coops in the morning and close them at night. They all decide where to stay all day long. This works because I have separate bins for them, but now they are pretty well integrated. I close up the coops at dark, and I never know who I will find in which bin in the morning!

 

[All Ball]

Why don't you try giving supervised snacks, and see if a real treat will entice them to join the big girls?

Otherwise, I would tend to give them time - their urge to explore will eventually win over.

Given they've been pecked to bleeding point, I would not want to leave the girls alone with the big ones until I knew that that sort of behavior is over with. You may have a brutal girl among your older flock - hopefully not.