[suzie b]

Hi there
I know this is an age old question but I really need advice. Ive introduced 4 new pol hens last night into the coup as advised. My two original hyline browns(2 yrs ols) came out coup first this morning then the newbies one by one. It was feathers at dawn!!! Rosemary, our original, proceeded to peck the newbies one by one and generally making her presence known. They've now all huddled into the corner of the enclosure. Will it settle down? The new girls consist of a white star, a brown leghorn, a bluebell and a rhode black. We have lots of things of interest for them so hoping this'll keep them amused for a while.
Any advice would be great please...
Suz

[in the hills]

There will always be some initial fuss in order to establish the pecking order and this usually settles down.

I always wire off half the indoor section and half of the run if I have to introduce any new birds to an existing pen. They can be quite mean so I think this approach reduces stress on all concerned. They can see each other but not make contact. By the time I remove the wire they consider the newcomers as part of the flock.This may not be possible for you depending on your set up. I also keep new birds in a separate ark, again where the rest of the flock can see them, by the time I let them out to free range there are no problems.Often these birds then move into the main pen of their own accord with no issues or I pop them in at bedtime for a couple of nights and they arent even noticed by the other birds.

[chrismahon]

We usually section our newbies off alongside the others for two weeks with two mesh fences between them. Introduce them at night with Lavender spray on all the birds and they are generally OK as they all smell the same. Helps to have two feeders and two drinkers to diffuse the confrontation areas.

This process can be speeded up by the disorientation approach. Put the old birds in the pen alongside and the newbies in the main coop. Mix them after 3-7 days.

Always best mixing them in a free range environment anyway as they have plenty of room to manouvre. There will always be two looking for a fight -the top hens from each group.

[suzie b]

Thanks for the advice. I've had to seperate the bully just to let the others eat and drink for a while. She can still see them as she's right beside them. I'll let them go in to roost then put bully chook in and hope for the best tomorrow. They'll be free ranging tomorrow but wanted them to get used to the enclosure as they'll be there a lot of the time. I popped in lots of treats on string, perches and logs to keep them semi amused. The other original hen looks forlorn but is coming round. Its so stressful when they're pets as we're obsessing over their every move.
suz

[chrismahon]

We're just as protective as you Suzie, but sometimes you have to just let them sort themselves out. If they have room to manouvre and escape the skirmishes will be minor. We had one hen, from a newly introduced pair, beat up 6 attackers in quick succession. We had to pull her out to let her recover her strength! Next day only 3 tried and then Margo was top hen.

[suzie b]

Thanks for that. Cheered me right up! Good on Margo. I dont want to bore folk though buuuuut,...zzzz they've all paired off. White star & brown leghorn(I think)very skittish but laying, bluebell&black rhode and my two original brown hyline. They all seem quiet, wierd, sleepy. Ive put sardines, corn on the cob and greens all hanging, two feeders and two drinkers which they've all been at at various points except Mabel my original boss hen. I think she's having a mental breakdown. She went mute the minute the new chooks were introduced(over night). So.....its Friday night two days since the arrival and I'm stressing. Theyve all been dusted as has their coop and they now have marriages with flubenvet. Oh and thier enclosure is 12ft by 6ft(coop outwith this but with straight access. Their 40ft run wont be ready till Tuesday morning and I hope they appreciate it. Massive for 6 dramatic hens!