Animals. How can you prevent your new hen from being excluded by her peers in the coop?

The arrival of a new chicken in the barnyard often means upheaval in the henhouse. Worried about the threat to the established social order, older chickens often develop aggressive behavior. Although inevitable, this phase of rejection is often temporary, provided a few precautions are taken.

If you're planning to expand your chicken coop, make sure your shelter and outdoor run are large enough. To facilitate integration, it's recommended to always introduce two hens at the same time rather than just one. To prevent health risks, quarantine your new charges for approximately 15 days. Take this opportunity to check the general health of these hens, deworm them, and treat them for parasites.

Have a group meal

After the isolation period, install a cage or wire mesh to separate your coop in two. At nightfall, place the new residents inside. In the early morning, let the older members go about their business outside and take the opportunity to release the new members into the enclosure. During the first group meal, be sure to feed the older members outside the coop and the new members inside.

They will get to know each other through the wire mesh. If they don't show any signs of aggression, reunite them after feeding. Otherwise, return the new ones to their enclosure and repeat the process until the situation calms down.

Also consider adding new feeders and waterers. If one of your chickens is overly attacked and the situation escalates, stop the fight by isolating the aggressive members for a few days. Be careful, if the harassed hen is injured, you will need to confine her until she recovers.