Introducing new chicken - Should she sleep alone?

[finallyinATX]

Hi,

I have three established chickens and one new one. All are about a year old.

I introduced the new chicken by letting them see each other through the run for about an hour. Then I let my 3 established girls free range with the new one out and about. There were a couple of interactions but nothing bad.

Once the three girls went to sleep, I placed the new one in the coop with them. This morning, she had several bloody spots on her head. I felt terrible.

I put a dog crate outside next to the run, with a cardboard box inside it. I placed bedding down as well.

I feel like she should sleep alone tonight and for the next few nights before putting them in the coop together again. It will be in the low 30's tonight.

Is the best next course of action?

 

[enoryz]

I did the see but no touch for 3 days and she would sleep in the garage. Then I would put her in the pen/coop with the rest. After 3 days of me having to put her in the coop at night she started going on her own. That's just the nature of the beast. It will stop eventually. She'll find her place in the order. It will be tuff on you but she'll be fine.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop and run?
Adding single bird is the hardest integration.

Putting them in at night on the pretext that the old birds won't notice the new ones sometimes works, especially with large flocks...but....
Like bobbie-j sez: "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid."


This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

So might these.
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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock