Scaredy-chicken won't leave the coop.

[shandiane78]

OK, so I know that introducing a new hen to the flock can be a problem, but I've done it in the past without incident. However, this new hen (Xena) is very, VERY nervous. Half the time she's hiding in a nest box, and she will never leave the coop on her own. She hides in there from the rest of flock. I can't really blame her, I guess, because I know she's getting picked on, but do you think she will eventually come out on her own, or should I start locking her out for a couple hours a day?! We've had her almost a week. She is VERY afraid of the other chickens, and also seems to be afraid of the traffic going by. She has food and water in the coop, so that's not a problem, but I'm concerned about her not being out pecking around the ground during the day. She also will not go up to roost with the others at night. Every night I am pulling her out of the nesting box and putting her on the roost (I make sure she is next to my BO, who never pecks).

The others don't seem ready to accept her by a long shot, but it may be partially because they don't see her. She's hiding from them all day! Any tips on how I can make it easier for her? She is a bit younger than the rest. Do you think it would help to introduce another younger bird or two to the flock? Maybe take some of the focus off of her? Xena is 6 mos old, while the rest are around 9-10 mos.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I am going thru this same thing with a single hen I'm introducing to my little flock of 8. She was getting chased and pecked and started hiding out so I got some poultry netting and sectioned off part of the run for her so she can be outside and the others can get used to seeing her outside scratching around but can't get to her. She has a dog crate to go into during the day but at night I'm putting her in a pet carrier in the coop as there was so much fighting with her trying to roost with them.

Sometimes it is easier to introduce a few new birds at a time instead of just one. In my case I don't have a choice but if you have a few more you could put with her it might help so she's not the focus of all the attention. Good luck with her, I always feel so sorry for the new ones!

 

[rhodiegal]

It definately helps to introduce more than one bird at at time to an existing flock, so I think your idea of adding a couple more would definately take the negative focus off of her, thus allowing her to adapt. After that it will probably just take some time - as long as she can get to food and water until she begins to feel more comfortable. Good luck!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I had the same problem with a silkie of mine. I solved the problem by giving her a fenced area in the coop that she can easily get to from the henhouse, and she spends a lot of her time in there where the guinea fowl/ducks/larger chickens can't get to her. The other bantams can go in and out and of course she did get picked on, but that's just an inevitable part of introducing new birds. It took her a long time (a few months?) before she was really comfortable, but she's finally starting to act like a normal chicken.

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks for your replies! I got a pet carrier into the coop as suggested, and blocked her access to the nest boxes, so maybe she will sleep in the carrier. I also tried locking her out of the coop with the others for a bit today. She got chased around, but really not that bad. And she did eventually start to scratch and peck around. She is jumpy as can be though! Every time a bird looks at her, or a car drives by, she freaks.

The last time I introduced a new bird, it was a very different experience! The new bird was tough and brave, and she just hung in there until the others accepted her. Funny how they have their own little personalities. This bird is very timid. She hasn't even tried to roost with the others, so maybe I should just give up on that idea for now. I'm going out of town for a few days, and I'm not going to ask my mom to pull Xena out of the nest box, then rearrange the chickens on their roost every night so Xena is on the outside next to Buffy (the nice chicken). lol

 

[Happy Chooks]

I've been worried about the same thing. I integrated 4 chickens 2 weeks ago. They hid in the coop for those 2 weeks. If they came out, they got ganged up on. (even the roosters) Yesterday was the first day they were all peacefully in the run.

 

[shandiane78]

That's good to hear! A few minutes ago I went out to check on her, and she wasn't in the coop. I finally found her dust bathing in a corner of the yard, away from the other chickens, but at least doing something chicken-y! She ran over when I brought out the sunflower seeds, then was run off of course, so she went to hide again. But she came out when the coast was clear to see what she could get. She's definitely making progress!