[Neelam]

Hello to everyone!
I've lately got three new girls to my flock. A Welsummer, an Araucana and a White Star. The White Star must be much, much younger than the two others as the Araucana started laying the very next day (although only half size of my grown ups). The White Star still makes the baby peeping noise (how do you call that in English?) and is not even half the size of the Araucana, that's why I assume, it cannot be much more than 10 weeks if compared to my two chicks I had. The poor little thing gets pecked from the two bigger ones I got with her as well as from one of the original flock (who is not even Your Highness Queen Chicken) so it started hiding underneath our garden furnitures that I keep on a wooden pallet covered with a tarpaulin outside. The first time they were allowed to free range I was really shocked as it just did disappear until I found it underneath in the hay, that's laying there as it is a hiding place of our dwarf rabbit.
Yesterday, I brought it finally inside as I am not sure it gets a chance to eat and drink enough due to the pecking, so I kept it inside for a while until I have seen that it has eaten and stopped on its own. Same today. But I am worried, if I keep taking it inside for longer, until it has grown up a bit more, it will be completely left out and introducing it to the flock will become even more difficult.

Our plumber keeps chicken and said, he would take the new ones at night, including the little one, into the coop of the others so the next day they might think, the little one belonged to them all the time, but I was too worried, if I put it inside with then 8 bigger ones, by the time I come to feed it is already mince meat.

What could I do to make it easier for the little fellow? Any ideas? Would this anti-feather-pecking spray help? And do I have to spray it only on this one?

I am grateful for any advise! Thank you!

Neelam

P.S: Having them for about a week now, might be important to  you.

[Sassy]

It is a good idea to introduce new birds at night as your plumber says but ideally after they have had a two/three week quarantine period to ensure they are well and not bringing any illnesses in. As the younger bird is getting picked on it is a good idea to allow her the hiding places and put out more watering and feeding stations. This means she will get the opportunity to eat and drink. 

Are they pulling the feathers out of her or just roughing her up? 

[joyfull]

could you not get her another little sister - this way they will pair up and be friends, then when they are big enough then put them in with the older bigger girls.

[Beekissed]

Some folks arrange a "creep feeder" for younger stock where they can escape the larger animals/birds and still get to eat and drink.  It can be as simple as wiring off a corner of the coop and run, with the bottom raised only big enough for the smaller bird to enter and exit, and placing food and water in that area.  Sort of a safe house. 

As she grows and finds her place in the pecking order she will use it less and less and then you can remove it altogether. 

IME, putting a younger bird in there at night expecting them to accept her by morning will have you finding her hiding somewhere in the coop the next morning, or still up on the roosts, in attempts to keep away from the other birds.  Birds don't think like humans and there is a pecking order in every flock and every young bird is introduced to it sooner or later and that's just the way it goes.  All it needs is some managing at first and she will still get her fair share of pecking but she'll soon learn how to duck and jive around the feeder and on the roosts. 

[joyfull]

love the idea of the creep feeder Beekissed.
I will say that I have very few problems introducing new birds but think this is because mine free range so are younger birds are able to find safe havens under shrubs etc.

[Beekissed]

Mine are the same, Joy.  I think free range solves a lot of problems like that.  I integrate my chicks with the big flock by their 2-3 wk of life and I've never had a problem.  The big flock are only in the coop to lay, eat or roost and the little ones can explore the area around the coop while learning flock social structure, so they learn rather quickly. 

Here's a pic or two of littles and bigs learning to live together...

[joyfull]

Gorgeous photos 

[Sassy]

love the idea of the creep feeder Beekissed.
I will say that I have very few problems introducing new birds but think this is because mine free range so are younger birds are able to find safe havens under shrubs etc.

Great idea

[Snoop]

Gorgeous photos 

Agreed. They are lovely.

[Neelam]

Thanks to you all. I was indeed thinking of getting another little one, problem I have is, that I am dependent on those who deliver livestock. I've got all 9 girls from "happychicks" and they only deliver at a minimum order of three which would overcrowding my back garden once fully grown (I guess). My girls, too, are all free ranging bit the little one hides first thing in the morning and never to be seen out.

[joyfull]

make sure you have more feed stations and water stations than you have birds, sadly you always have one at the bottom of the pecking order and until she learns to stand up for herself she will be it. She will soon learn to dart around and scarper out of their way.

[Neelam]

Thanks @joyful, I hope the little one wI'll soon gain some confidence. Unfortunately, just this first week my hole family suffered from a viral infection so I couldn't bother too much with my girls.

Thanks again to all your replies.