It's been interesting integrating Hazel My Lovely into out established flock. It's gone really well (so far).
Initially, I'd sectioned off a large part of the Run so that Hazel had her own space and her own coop. Early on, I left the top door open. The only hen that was likely to fly in was Fay, and she and Hazel had already come beak to beak. I knew that hazek could fly into the main coop, but she'd also be able to fly out if things turned nasty.
To my surprise, she flew into the main run that evening, and roosted on one of the chairs. I decided to leave her there.
During the next few days as she skirted the egde of the Establishement, Hazel tested the waters. She quickly dominated the two araucana, who are at a disadvantage as they don't see too well due to their mop heads.
There were a number of spats between Hazel and Ophelia, the palomino Vorwerk. Ophelia was number 7 of 7 while Elizabeth was alive. Elizabeth took a dislike to Ophelia, and kept her firmly at the bottom of the pecking order. After Elizabeth died, Ophelia became a more confident and happy chook. She didn't do anything to try and move up the pecking order, but she was happier to make sure she got her fair share of treats, etc.
With Hazel's arrival, Ophelia seems to have decided that she'd like to move up a bit. She and Hazel had a number of beak offs, nothing malicious. It currently looks like Ophelia won, and so Hazel and the two Araucana are now 5, 6 and 7.
Hazel also took on Astrid, who was probably number 3 of the Establishment. So far, Astrid seems to have retained her place.
Hazel is not taking on Fay, but Fay does do a bit of an eff-off peck every now and then.
There has been no ganging up, no real nastiness, and now Hazel is permitted to roam and eat with the Establishment. They won't currently let her in the two coops at night, so she's roosting on the back of a chair. If the weather is bad, we go in and move her into the spare coop, otherwise we leave her where she is.
The Girls rearranged themselves a couple of nights ago so Bott (top chook) was the sole resident of ne of the coops, so I guess that Hazel has to decide to go in there one evening.
The run is huge, so it's easy for people to keep out of each others way; we have plenty of feed and water stations; the free ranging area is large and it's easy for hens to keep out of each others eyeline; and Hazel is old enough and sensible enough to take things calmly.
She's a lovely thing.
