BuryFCA1 Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I brought 3 new hens home yesterday to meet my 4. I left them caged separately all morning and afternoon to see each other. In the evening I let them loose for an hour and my 4 were vicious and aggressive towards them. Overnight I let the new 3 have the coop and the 4 in the garage. How long is this going to last and how do I settle the new ones in and actually make them feel welcome? Do I keep them caged off for as long as possible or just let them loose and let them settle in natures way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Take it slowly.I kept mine seperate but seeing each other for 3 weeks by dividing the WIR.I let them out seperately to FR and then together a bit at a time.Now they are the best of friends. You mentioned that you kept the oldies in the garage over night .I think chickens have short memories and if the don't see them all the time they are apart it is like they have never seen them and the fighting starts over..I might be wrong . Good luck jackie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Slowly does it... I keep any new hens in a separate eglu and run for at least a week before letting them free range together, i chuck corn/treats/food around the perimeter of the newbies run so they get used to each other and associate each other with nice things! Even after successfully FRing for a week or two they still sleep in separate coups. We let them choose where they sleep once they all go into the WIR together by popping the eglu without run into the WIR x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
