[b'cark]

We have had four Rhode Island Reds living together happily for the past year. They are vary tame. We got one Sussex White a couple of days ago and the reds don't like it at all. The Sussex is far bigger than the others but even one to one the reds chase and peck feathers from the Sussex. Should we let them get on with it and hope they settle down? Should we get another Sussex as support for the first? Should we separate them? Any advice would be welcomed.

[FCG]

It's normal for chickens to have an order it's where 'pecking order' comes from. Having a new chicken by itself it'll have to establish itself in the existing order and you definitely wouldn't want to go down a rung in the order! Another Sussex would help, but a better way if you don't want to have another try separating them with a wire mesh/chicken wire separating them so they can see/hear/smell each other and then let them run together once they are used to the new chicken. Failing everything they should settle down naturally once the order is cemented.

Good luck, plus where are the pictures!

[b'cark]

Thanks for the advice Mike. We separated the Sussex into an improvised run / house yesterday and overnight and introduced one or two reds from time. Things seem to be setling down a bit but there is the occasional scary scrap.
Good luck with the allotment.