Wanting to get another hen but worried my dominate hen will not accept

[shannon84]

Hi everyone, I have two hens one is 3 other one is 4......my old RIR dominate hen thinks she's a rooster, she has spurs and attacks her refection, ring comes up on her neck and everything! I'm worried if I get another chicken she will be really mean or even kill it! Will a hen kill another hen? Any tips or advice? Thanks!!!!!

 

[SueT]

She will likely bully the newcomer. You could put the newbie in a see-no-touch set up, and monitor reactions. This is usually how integration is most successful. You need sufficient room and also feed in various areas to make integration work.
I had a bully that bloodied other chickens and I put pinless peepers on her. These are plastic blinders that snap into the nostrils. The bully is not able to peck other chickens, but she could still chase them, keep them off roosts, away from feed, etc. With an incorrigible meanie, I don't know if there's a solution other than separate coops, or culling.

 

[shannon84]

She will likely bully the newcomer. You could put the newbie in a see-no-touch set up, and monitor reactions. This is usually how integration is most successful. You need sufficient room and also feed in various areas to make integration work.
I had a bully that bloodied other chickens and I put pinless peepers on her. These are plastic blinders that snap into the nostrils. The bully is not able to peck other chickens, but she could still chase them, keep them off roosts, away from feed, etc. With an incorrigible meanie, I don't know if there's a solution other than separate coops, or culling.

Ok, oh these are more less my pets, eggs are just a bonus for me, I had no idea hens could get so mean, she bullied the one she's with so bad in the beginning that it almost made me re home her, they are inseparable now...But she never made her bleed. This spurring started when she actually grew spurs, I think shes gotten meaner with age or something. I'll look into some peeper's, that would probably help a lot because she loves to peck! So she may not want to share her coop or feeder you think? Thank you for the tips!