Tips on how to introduce new chicken

[3 little Ones]

Hello Everyone.
Is there any tips on how to safely introduce a new chicken to the flock and limit the pecking? I have 2 6 to 7 months old chickens and adding in a 5 month old to the flock. The 2 that are already together are very close to each other. They have had a friend added to the group a few months away and she became sick after a three months and sadly passed away. The original 2 did peck in her for about 2 weeks and then accepted her in. Is there a way I can help introduce her to the flock?

Thank you.

 

[snow5164]

I like to put the new one in a dog crate in the coop or run, for about a week . The old ones will be curious and the new one can’t get pecked , after a week open the door scatter some scratch for the old ones and watch the process .

Just like a new kid in school she will get chased and pecked just to establish a pecking order ,
No
Blood ? Then it’s all good

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

 

[3 little Ones]

I like to put the new one in a dog crate in the coop or run, for about a week . The old ones will be curious and the new one can’t get pecked , after a week open the door scatter some scratch for the old ones and watch the process .

Just like a new kid in school she will get chased and pecked just to establish a pecking order ,
No
Blood ? Then it’s all good

No blood. She is settling in better then the 1st one. Thank you

 

[3 little Ones]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

Thank you

 

[Mrs. K]

Adding a single bird is hard, especially one to a small flock. I would do how the above poster suggests, but the second week, I would put the two in her set up, and let the new bird have a day to explore the area, then I would put just one bird out with her, might be a ruckus, but it is one on one. Let that settle then add the third.

 

[proudmommie31]

I had to add one bird to a existing flock. I first went in and rearranged the entire chicken area. They were so busy re-establishing the pecking order of who got to go where that when I let loose the new bird no one even noticed at first. Then the highest hen did, there was a few minutes of staring, sassyness etc and they moved on. i stood out there until I was no longer needed to head off any flying at eachother (happened twice) and then went in. No blood and by the morning they were all fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree to the more upset everything is, the better. But with just three birds, it a bit more difficult

 

[aart]

I first went in and rearranged the entire chicken area. They were so busy re-establishing the pecking order and who got to go where that when I let loose the new bird no one even noticed at first.

Rearranging the living environment can definitely help create a diversion...but it wont change the pecking order, just get everyone in a tizzy because ...'chickens don't like change'.

 

[proudmommie31]

Rearranging the living environment can definitely help create a diversion...but it wont change the pecking order, just get everyone in a tizzy because ...'chickens don't like change'.

Sorry, I wasn’t clear with with my words. What I meant to explain was the top birds were highly distracted choosing the best places again and re-establishing their domain on those choice areas.....not that the actual pecking order itself changed.....though eventually the new bird knocked a few down a peg or two