What the heck. Confused. Frustrated.

[Mehpenn]

I've had the two new hens for two weeks. (Australorp and RIR)
About a week ago, I put them in the chicken lot with my original hen.(NHR)
For the first several days, the two new hens kept to themselves and away from my NHR, and the NHR continued to lay.
Then I noticed the RIR and the NHR had kind of paired up, leaving the Australorp (who has sounded congested/coughing since I brought her home) alone in the coop.
The Australorp isn't roosting with the other two, either. She stays in the nest, the other two roost on a limb in the lot.
So, no eggs at all for about a week. I know it can take a while for them all to adjust, and so I've given up on gathering any eggs for a while.

But, here's the newest very odd development (well, odd for me.)

I used to let my NHR out of the chicken lot to free range a couple days a week. I haven't let her out since the new hens joined her, because I wanted to give them time to adjust to their new environment and learn where to go at night......
I went out this morning and decided to let them out a while, and the RIR wouldn't leave the lot, the Australorp went just outside the fence behind a bush and stayed there all day, and my original hen, the NHR left the lot, but then didn't respond when I called her like she normally did. Before the new hens joined her, I could call her "Chick, chick, chick" and she'd come running and right back into her lot.... today, she completely ignored me and then wouldn't let me pick her up.
(I still call "chick, chick, chick" when I feed them and have since she was just a couple days old.)

So, can someone please tell me what's going on?
DH wants me to get rid of the new hens, and wait til spring and get a couple more chicks and raise them up.

 

[Angie8eggs]

I would still give it more time, they are older hens adjusting to each other, it's easier when it's just chicks, but I think they will come around. Is it possible for you to keep them locked up in their chicken house for at least two days straight without letting them out in the run? That might help a little more, I know you mentioned you did that just wasn't sure how long you did it. I have 22 chickens and I hate to leave them cooped up like that, but sometimes I have to when we go out of town. I just pick them some grass, bugs, worms whatever I can to keep them busy, dumping dirt in tere to helps, they get their dust baths and scratch around in it. Also for the night problem, just pick up your chicken and place her on the roost at night so she will wake up with the others in the morning and hopefully gets it, you might have to do that a couple of nights. Just have a flashlight or a light with you so you see where your are placing her, I forgot mine one night and my chicken landed on the ground! Oops!! Good luck, keep me posted!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I've had the two new hens for two weeks. (Australorp and RIR)
About a week ago, I put them in the chicken lot with my original hen.(NHR)
For the first several days, the two new hens kept to themselves and away from my NHR, and the NHR continued to lay.
Then I noticed the RIR and the NHR had kind of paired up, leaving the Australorp (who has sounded congested/coughing since I brought her home) alone in the coop.
The Australorp isn't roosting with the other two, either. She stays in the nest, the other two roost on a limb in the lot.
So, no eggs at all for about a week. I know it can take a while for them all to adjust, and so I've given up on gathering any eggs for a while.

But, here's the newest very odd development (well, odd for me.)

I used to let my NHR out of the chicken lot to free range a couple days a week.  I haven't let her out since the new hens joined her, because I wanted to give them time to adjust to their new environment and learn where to go at night......
I went out this morning and decided to let them out a while, and the RIR wouldn't leave the lot, the Australorp went just outside the fence behind a bush and stayed there all day, and my original hen, the NHR left the lot, but then didn't respond when I called her like she normally did. Before the new hens joined her, I could call her "Chick, chick, chick" and she'd come running and right back into her lot.... today, she completely ignored me and then wouldn't let me pick her up.
(I still call "chick, chick, chick" when I feed them and have since she was just a couple days old.)

So, can someone please tell me what's going on?
DH wants me to get rid of the new hens, and wait til spring and get a couple more chicks and raise them up.

Sounds like they are working through the new pecking order. I wouldn't worry about her not responding the same. She will start to listen again when she's ready.

She may not be the head hen anymore. The other one may have taken that role and so she can't come running to get the treats or she will get it from the head hen who is supposed to get treats first.

They'll workout the order and you can bring them meal worms to gain their trust.

 

[Mehpenn]

Thanks!

I hope Hallie (NHR)can get back to her normal self soon..... I have noticed that the RIR seems to be the boss.
Poor Australorp, looks to be ancient. I don't know how long I'll have her, I honestly expect her to be gone every morning when I go out to feed them.
Her claws are long and thick, reminds me of an old person's nails, and her legs are kind of scaley. I have no idea how old she is, but I know her horrible living conditions before haven't helped her life.