Introducing chickens to each other

Hi all,

My lovely hen Mildred died a couple of days ago, and seeing as Bessie died in January, Gertie was left all on her own :-(

We decided to get some new company for her, so today we bought two young hens and I named them Dolly and Mavis. I tried to introduce them this afternoon so I let Gertie out into the garden and put Dolly and Mavis from the box that we brought them in into the run, so they they would be separated from Gertie but would stll be able to see each other.

The second Gertie saw them, I could tell that she was distressed. She started squawking and sort of charging around and walking around me and my family like she was annoyed.  Then she went up to the netting and had a good look at Dolly and Mavis.  Mavis looked back at her and they sort of squared up to each other. Then they both started sort of jumping and flapping at each other.

I never thought that Gertie would be so territorial, because she has always been very passive and friendly.  But I do understand that they will over time need to establish a pecking order. Gertie went straight up to bed in the coop and we put Dolly and Mavis in the garage in a box, and theyre all sound asleep at the moment.

Tomorrow I'm going to keep them separated as I did yesterday, so they are still able to see each other and be near each other, but not able to touch each other.

Can anyone give me any advice or any tips?

don't know if this will work but this is the link to the post I think

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=83746.msg932721#msg932721

In an ideal world I would keep a fence between them for a couple of weeks and then one night when they are in bed and dopey put them in the coop together for the night. There may abe a little pecking but it should not be too bad. Also ensure you have 2 or 3 lots of food and water to start with.

I thought you were just meant to put the new ones into the henhouse at night and leave them to get on with it?  You could seperate them with a temporary fence during the day so that they can still see each other.  They will get used to each other.  They just need to sort out whos top hen and get their pecking order right!!   

I lost one of mine to a fox, leaving two. Rather than introduce one on it's own, I got two, similar looking breeds, but from different breeders. Those two met in the box on the way home, then went straight into the coop as it was bedtime.

In the morning, the two new girls tended to stick together while the old girls made sure they stayed in the corner. I tend to sit in the run with a cuppa and some meal worms at intervals during the day to ensure fair play, and 'peck' the old girls if they get too aggressive. But to be honest, they've been very good and not too many feathers have flown. After a whole day together, the smallest hopped into the coop at bedtime with the old girls, while the other had to be popped in by me.

Again today, good mixing with the odd cornering. The old girls were let out to free-range leaving the new girls to get used to the run. Old girls came in and at bed time, same routine.

I'm pretty much letting them get on with it, but think the time I spend in the run playing at top hen (or looking like a right cock according to my husband) is helping the new girls to be accepted to the flock. Famous last words and fingers crossed.

But I only have four birds, and a walk-in run that is 12' x 8' with lots of branches, perches and places to hid, so the new girls are finding their favourite places to avoid unwanted attentions.

Which ever way you choose, I hope it all works out.

Best wishes

Christine