Will Adding Hens to Established Flock Make Them Mean?

[AppleMomma65]

I’m considering doing this - and will take the necessary precautions of quarantine prior but curious … my flock of 10 is well established (2 years). They come when called, there are several very friendly ones. Will adding two new hens (same age - 2 years; adding due to death of owner) change their pleasant dispositions? Will their egg-laying stop or decrease while the new ones transition in?

 

[froggyphore]

Their disposition to you shouldn't change, I've never experienced that personally. They'll likely be a little stressed and moody and will probably be mean to the new hens for a while though.

 

[CluckCluckChicken]

I've never had that experience but I can't speak for everyone. If I had to guess, and what I've experienced, they'll most likely just reestablish their pecking order and figure out who the new top chicken is. You'll probably have to train the new chickens while you are at it, but I'm sure they will learn a lot by watching your other girls.

 

[Mrs. K]

You are apt to have some dust ups and some squabbles. You have had a solitary flock for 3 years, and they are going to be pretty positive that these intruder are from Mars and have come to take over their world.

I would strongly recommend, turning out your layers into your yard and putting the new ones in the coop/run set up alone. Let them stay most of the day there, exploring with out being chased and everyone getting all worked up. Being as the new ones are not chicks, but mature birds. One day might be enough.

Close to dark, let the other ones in.

This is assuming a couple of things on my part:

• do you have hide outs
• multiple feed bowls
• roosts in the run
• mini walls, or pallets where birds can get out of sight of each other?

Some peoples runs are bare, so that a bird can see every other bird 100% of the time, and that can really lead to picking on and attacking.

I would not worry at all about how they will interact with you. That won't change unless one of the birds is a rooster, roosters do change the human interaction.

Mrs K

 

[AppleMomma65]

Their disposition to you shouldn't change, I've never experienced that personally. They'll likely be a little stressed and moody and will probably be mean to the new hens for a while though.

Thank you! Will their egg-laying cease or decrease?

 

[froggyphore]

Thank you! Will their egg-laying cease or decrease?

There's a small chance it may decrease for a few weeks, but it shouldn't cease.

 

[aart]

Existing birds will not like the 'intruders' and will likely try to protect their resources(food/shelter)....yo may see it as 'mean', they can be vicious.

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[AppleMomma65]

You are apt to have some dust ups and some squabbles. You have had a solitary flock for 3 years, and they are going to be pretty positive that these intruder are from Mars and have come to take over their world.

I would strongly recommend, turning out your layers into your yard and putting the new ones in the coop/run set up alone. Let them stay most of the day there, exploring with out being chased and everyone getting all worked up. Being as the new ones are not chicks, but mature birds. One day might be enough.

Close to dark, let the other ones in.

This is assuming a couple of things on my part:

• do you have hide outs
• multiple feed bowls
• roosts in the run
• mini walls, or pallets where birds can get out of sight of each other?

Some peoples runs are bare, so that a bird can see every other bird 100% of the time, and that can really lead to picking on and attacking.

I would not worry at all about how they will interact with you. That won't change unless one of the birds is a rooster, roosters do change the human interaction.

Mrs K

Excellent! With what you are noting, I am thinking I’ll bring their very small coop and put that in my run and close that off with some chicken wire and maybe a bit of plywood for a no-see area. I can close off the original coop so the current hens can lay and roost but still have access to the run so they can see their new mates. I can make both areas have water and food. Crossing my fingers for continued eggs from my flock and a successful integration!! Thank you so much!