[daisy1990]

We have three one year old hens which were bought together and live happily together (free range behind an electric fence in half an acre- in a coop at night).  Our cleaner has just lost one of her two hens as the fence blew on it and as her remaining hen was lonely it is now with us.  She has brought her coop and we have put her behind the fence with ours.  When we try to let her out our smallest (previously timid) hen is flying at her and pecking and the poor new hen is running back in her coop.  Any advice on this please?  We  have also got four five week old chicks which we will need to integrate at some point, should we try putting them with the new hen (when they are old enough) or wait until she is (hopefully!) with the three hens and put them with all four?

Thanks for any help
Daisy

[Casey76]

The fighting is perfectly normal, as your previously timid hen (probably bottom of the pecking order) is trying to make the other hen the bottom of the pecking order.

Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and let them get on with is (purple spray at the ready in case blood is drawn)

With chicks, I have them in a pen within the main pen from about 6 weekl old to 9-10 weeks old.  By this time they are well establised, the hens have had a good chance to look at them, and the chicks know where "bed" is.

Then I just take part of the pen down and let them get on withit.  Inevitably there is a lot of running and chasing at first, but it normally settles down after a week or so.

[daisy1990]

thanks casey