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Introducing 3 New Hens To Our Flock

We currently have 2 hens – A Bluebell called “Sienna” and a Black Rock called “Phoenix” – both are laying machines and we get close to a dozen eggs a week from them.


Sienna on the left has always been the dominant one – and a little bit of a bully.

A week ago a friend came to me and asked if I could look after his 5 chickens for a month. He was in a desperate situation and so I really couldn’t say no.

Introducing new hens would be seen as a challenge to Sienna’s authority. And I was expecting a few pecks here and there as the ‘pecking order’ was re-established or should I say reaffirmed in the case of Sienna.

What I wasn’t expecting was just how violent it would be!

I have read much about the topic of introducing new hens to an existing flock and there are a few different schools of thought out there. Some people recommend you wait until it is dark and the existing hens have put themselves to bed.

They then introduce the new hens into the coop. You the owner would decide where in the coop they will sleep for the night and you pretty much put them down where you see fit.

Others suggest a more staggered introduction. The idea is to keep them separated but ideally within eye contact over a course of a few days to a few weeks. This gives them time to get used to each other. They should not have any physical interaction during this period.

There is also the point that keeping them apart for a longer period lessens the chance of disease being spread.

I guess you can never be certain whether or not your new birds are carrying anything, and at least if you keep them separated for a week or so, any disease or problem should make its presence known and you can deal with it before spreading it amongst your existing flock.

You should also always try and avoid introducing just one hen as this can lead to the flock taking exception and all having a go at the new arrival.

Anyway….

I arranged for the hens to be dropped off at dusk. That way everyone would be less stressed out as chickens tend to be less active and more calm when night falls.

Luckily I have a spare ark that I popped them in for the night and that was that. Sienna and Phoenix had put themselves to bed so weren’t really aware of the new arrivals.

The next morning I was up early to watch and see the action. For the most part our two just minded their own business. But later on as they approached the ark it became evident who the dominant hen was in each group.

After a few more days of rotating the 2 groups between the ark and the large enclosed run I decided to release two of the new hens into the pen with our Bluebell and Black Rock.

Sienna straight away had a go at them but it wasn’t too serious and there was no fighting back from the two new ones.

I kept the dominant one of the new group inside the ark to give both dominant hens more time to get used to each other. After a day or so the other 4 had integrated well enough, with the odd peck here and there from our dominant Bluebell.

But I still had two very aggressive hens not willing to relinquish their status in the pecking order.

After now almost 6 days together I decided it was time to settle this once and for all. I released all 5 together in the morning and for a while they were all busying themselves with filling their crops.

But eventually paths crossed and they caught sight of each other and the fight was on.

It didn’t last as long as I had thought it would and luckily there wasn’t too much damage done. A little bit of blood drawn from the comb of the newcomer but I remedied that with a mild antiseptic spray. It was shocking at first to see the bird bleeding but the next day it had healed.

That night all 5 were to sleep in the hen house together. I made sure Sienna was the last one to go to bed. I put her in the ark and waited to well after dark. When all had settle in for the night I moved Sienna from the ark back into the hen house and plonked her next to Phoenix and watched with a torch light to see what would happen.

As previously stated – after it gets dark, hens become docile, and there weren’t any problems apart from a bit of hasty movement from the hen that had taken Sienna’s favourite roosting spot.

The following morning while it was still dark I went down to check on them and they were already out and about. No doubt as soon as Sienna stirred the others thought it was probably best that they got out of her way!

Sienna has had a few more goes at all three of them during the course of the day but none of them stand up to her and they all manage to get away without any injuries. So I guess the pecking order has been successfully established!

What did I learn from this experience?

  • It was a lot more violent than I was expecting – I really was quite shocked at the sight of blood on the comb of both hens.
  • It took less time than I have thought. When the two hens were having a go at each through the wire of the ark I honestly thought I had a much bigger problem on my hands.
  • The fight didn’t last as long as I had thought it would and luckily there wasn’t too much damage done. A little bit of blood drawn but I remedied that with a mild antiseptic spray and by the next day it had healed.
  • And finally not to bet on who you think will be the top of the pecking order. My money was on the new hen that had previously been in charge of 6 others and had the battle scars to prove it. I was expecting Sienna to quickly get put in her place. But the complete opposite happened.

Have you ever introduced new hens to an existing flock? Comments below welcomed!

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25 Readers Comments

Thanks for the video. Never knew they could be so aggressive! Good luck. - Marc

thanks. - Susan

I have found all of your information so informative and this one really schools you. Keep up the great work. I really appreciate you and your sharing. Thank You! - Margaret

Thank you for this information. It’s eye opening stuff. I have a question. You talk about there being 5 hens but I only see 3 in the vids? What happened to the others? - Matt

I’m keeping 5 in total in our enclosed section of the veggie patch and the other 2 (which are a close pair) are being kept in a separate area in a spare Sussex coop that I have. I didn’t want to over crowd things too much. The Devon Hen House which I’m using holds about 5 to 6 although last night when I went to check on them, 3 of them were crammed into the nesting box, so I could have probably put all 7 in together.I just though that this being the 1st time I have introduced new hens that I’d rather see what happens with 3 and take it from there. Thanks Matt for the question. - Mike from ChickenCoopsdirect.com

Interesting. Thanks for going to the trouble of putting this together.. - Paul.

What I would like to say is to please keep the videos and information coming. I so enjoy and look forward to the informative bits and pieces you share with us. I am going to be new to raising chickens and want to do all the homework I can before making decisions on picking and choosing. My father raised chickens when I was a child and I now really want to do the same for personal pleasure and reap the rewards as well. Thanks again! - Margaret

I would like to say a very big thank you for taking the time to put together such a great guide, i have found it very very helpful! Keep the info coming :) Thank you smily. - Sarah Hall

I have found all of your posts to be most interesting and informative, especially introducing new hens to an existing flock. I got 4 warrens in May and since they started laying in June I haven’t had to buy any eggs and am able to sell/give away surplus ones. I wish I’d got them years ago and find them so enjoyable. I haven’t noticed any one particularly dominent bird so I’m glad to have seen the above footage.
Thanks - Christine

Many thanks for all your info and interesting vids.Should take delivery of my new flock in April,so all tips etc. most gratefully received? - Tony Witt

Interesting. Thanks for going to the trouble of putting this together.. - Paul.

I am getting a Sussex chicken house and four chickens tomorrow. New to this but my Dad used to keep chickens when I was young. The posts are very informative. I have saved all the information so that I can refer to it when necessary. Thank you and look forward to the next post. ! - Val Mitchell

hi thanks for the video it was very helpful recently we have got a new black laced oprington and she is our biggest bird and where she came from before she had had her comb ripped off by black rocks and we have 5 hens (bluebells warrens and specaldys) and they dont like her aswell and pick on her any tips would be very helpful
thanks kaitlan :) xxxsmily. - kaitlan

Hi Kaitlan, thanks for the idea for my next post! I'll be in touch shortly.- Mike from ChickenCoopsdirect.com

Many thanks for for all your information on keeping chicken. The vidio on introducing new chicken to an existing flock is very interesing! We got four Hybrids last August at 16 weeks old. We are thinking of getting two more in the Spring. All four hens get on really well together. Infact, so well that we cannot work out who is number one in the pecking order. I love my girles very much and would hate to upset them. I shall now have my doubts about getting any more!!
What do you think?
Any advice is always greatly welcome.- Jill

learned a lot, very helpful! glad not too much damage was done - Elly

Love it – it was like a movie about stroppy teenagers…!
About to get my first ever hens – ex batts – and we’re searching everywhere online and in books for information – forewarned and all that! Although I think its a case of information overload – I was even reading that you need to be careful about all white chooks because they can be stolen for sacrificial ceremonies…!! What?!? Anyway, love watching the videos – although am now a bit scared as chooks look so big – I think I’ll be the one bullied, not them! Hopefully they’ll sort out their pecking order in the car on the way home so I dont have to deal with it.
Thanks again - Hazel.

This info.is extremely reassuringl. I’ve had 2 black rocks for the past year and I’m in the process of introducing 2 more. I did the research and bought birds that were a similar size and colour, but I agree, it’s quite upsetting watching the newcomers being chased and pecked. Yesterday I placed the new arrivals in a small run held within a larger area and allowed the existing 2 to see them for a couple of hours. I then decided to let them out and they did get pecked, one more than the other who seemed to be more submissive and didn’t run. No injury’s at this stage. They all went to bed in the same coop and apart from the initial bit of pecking, they settled down for the night quite well. This morning they were all up at 6am but again being chased around abit. I’ve put the 2 new ones back in the run whilst I’m at work and kept the older ones roaming. I have however placed the feeders near each other one in the pen and one outside so at least they get used to feeding near each other. I hope tonight to put them to bed together when it gets quite dark and they’re much quieter. I think I’ll continue in this vain until they become more used to each other. However, I do fear that ‘Pecking Order’ will have to be established eventually. - Kim Porter

Great videos ,shows us what to expect under this situation and how to deal with it.
Thanks to all the team,
regards - Roger

Hi Kaitlan, thanks for the idea for my next post! I'll be in touch shortly.- Mike from ChickenCoopsdirect.com

Many thanks for for all your information on keeping chicken. The vidio on introducing new chicken to an existing flock is very interesing! We got four Hybrids last August at 16 weeks old. We are thinking of getting two more in the Spring. All four hens get on really well together. Infact, so well that we cannot work out who is number one in the pecking order. I love my girles very much and would hate to upset them. I shall now have my doubts about getting any more!!
What do you think?
Any advice is always greatly welcome.- Jill

learned a lot, very helpful! glad not too much damage was done - Elly

Have found the guide, videos and all your emails very informative and keep re-reading/watching them. Have the devon and run all ready and can’t wait to get my three hens early next week. Family getting excited too. Thank you so much for all the guidance. - Annie Payne.

Thank you for the insight into chicken life. It has helped me to realise that interference from me ( which would have been my first response to the aggression) definitely would have been the worst thing I could have done! Thank you for the information and very informative video. - Pam

Never mind cock fighting Mike, those two would give them a run for their money. The lodger was really using her claws when they were separated by the wire.

Fortunately I will not be in your position, so will probably stick to the four. They paired off initially, but after a week they are getting along together quite well, Bluebells, Daisy and Bluebell, and Cuckoo Morans, Hetty and Hatty. Hatty gave the Bluebells a hard time initially and left a couple of scars, but once they started feeding out of my hand, she quietened down.

I am sure that they know their names by now, and when I go out during the day to give them their corn treat and call them from the other end of the garden, it is hilarious to watch them trying to be the first to me. The Morans start sprinting together with the Bluebells behind them, but when they see that they are not going to make it they take off and fly over the top of them and land at my feet. Four of them pecking out of your hand at the same time is just below pain level.

Great advice and insight as ever, you really made it easy for me to start from scratch, and it is obvious from the above posts how much it is appreciated. I am sure that if potential owners spent more time googling when they decide to buy a coop, and compared pictures along side each other as I did, they would see the difference in quality between the Cocoons which seem to be the most numerous ones advertised, and your own Devon, and they only have to read the reviews to see the back up service they will get which extends way beyond the sale.

Tis what I call old fashioned service, it used to be common in the old days, but is harder to find now. Cheers regards - David Duncan

 

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