Will she ever be part of the flock

[Alley]

I have 3, 2 year old hens of different breeds. I decided to add two more girls this year. I raised them in the house until they were feather and then put them in the coop separated from the other girls for 2 or 3 weeks and slowly let them with the others. Over the weekend, I let them all be together. BIG mistake, they scalped one of my baby girls. For the first time in raising chickens, I had to cull. I have my other girl, who is now separated in the coop from the others. My question is, will she ever be part of the flock. She wants nothing to do with the older hens and I don't blame her.

 

[demonic]

I have 3, 2 year old hens of different breeds. I decided to add two more girls this year. I raised them in the house until they were feather and then put them in the coop separated from the other girls for 2 or 3 weeks and slowly let them with the others. Over the weekend, I let them all be together. BIG mistake, they scalped one of my baby girls. For the first time in raising chickens, I had to cull. I have my other girl, who is now separated in the coop from the others. My question is, will she ever be part of the flock. She wants nothing to do with the older hens and I don't blame her.

How big are the ones you added compared to the ones already? Size means a lot

 

[Alley]

3 months old... I am devastated because I feel like this is my fault.

 

[demonic]

3 months old... I am devastated because I feel like this is my fault.

Thats probably too young, 3 month old chickens with 2 year old chickens. It’s not your fault, it happens. Let them grow bigger until they are around the same size of your current hens And slowly introduce them. Try the playpen method? Where you enclose a cage or area in the older chickens run so the older chickens can see the smaller ones but can’t touch. As long as your chicken is being treated properly after being scalped you shouldn’t worry

 

[rosemarythyme]

She'll be part of the flock when she's old enough to lay, though she may always be a bit of a loner as many chickens tend to hang out with their hatchmates even as adults (but there's always exceptions).

How is the survivor doing with the hens? Do you have her separated or is she still with the adults?

I integrate extremely early (chicks start mingling with the hens as young as 10 days) as younger birds are less of a threat to adults and their tiny size can be used to an advantage. At 12 weeks old yours in a weird in-between area... too old to be a baby, too young to lay and be fully accepted by adults, and teen birds can be a bit obnoxious for adults to deal with at times.

 

[Alley]

The survivor is quarantined in the coop. She's fine and was unharmed and larger than the other bird. I have a dominant hen who charges and attacks her but I put her in her place yesterday. During the day while I'm at work the survivor stays in the coop with run of the run and coop while the evil ones free range.