Unwelcome Newcomer

SJCatWrangler

In the Brooder
Jan 5, 2021
4
7
11
Rescued what I think is a White Ameraucana. Super friendly, likes to be pet. My flock (Blace Lace Wyandotte and Rhode Island Reds) will have nothing to do with her. If she is in the coop they all leave. They chase her, peck at her, etc. Any tips on integrating her into the flock?
 
They might just need to figure things out. If she's getting injured - like with visible blood or is limping, you could keep her in a large dog crate inside the coop with separate food and water for a day or two. They should get used to her that way without being able to injure her. It might take a few days of this type of non-contactable exposure. Esecially important if you don't have a large run or free range hens that can escape an attack.
 
They might just need to figure things out. If she's getting injured - like with visible blood or is limping, you could keep her in a large dog crate inside the coop with separate food and water for a day or two. They should get used to her that way without being able to injure her. It might take a few days of this type of non-contactable exposure. Esecially important if you don't have a large run or free range hens that can escape an attack.
Flock is free range. I close coop door at night to discourage predators. A couple of hens don't go in coop. They have their own special roosting spots. I don't know where new girl goes at night. Can't find her. Large property. Im just concerned that she will get picked off by a predator being all by herself.
Thanks for your response
 
Flock is free range. I close coop door at night to discourage predators. A couple of hens don't go in coop. They have their own special roosting spots. I don't know where new girl goes at night. Can't find her. Large property. Im just concerned that she will get picked off by a predator being all by herself.
Thanks for your response
Yeah, I would try and crate her in your coop both so she knows it's home as well as the safety aspect. She may never return to the coop to sleep if you don't find some way to force her into the flock since they are free range.
 
A couple of hens don't go in coop. They have their own special roosting spots. I don't know where new girl goes at night. Can't find her. Large property. Im just concerned that she will get picked off by a predator being all by herself.
Any bird roosting outside unprotected at night is a possible victim to predation.

Rescued what I think is a White Ameraucana. Super friendly, likes to be pet. My flock (Blace Lace Wyandotte and Rhode Island Reds) will have nothing to do with her. If she is in the coop they all leave. They chase her, peck at her, etc. Any tips on integrating her into the flock?
Typical response.
Integrating a single bird is the hardest integration.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might these tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better.
Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/
 
Any bird roosting outside unprotected at night is a possible victim to predation.


Typical response.
Integrating a single bird is the hardest integration.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might these tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/
@SJCatWrangler

This! Couldn't have said it better myself.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom