Adding to the flock

[902_Rooster]

I have 7 laying hens 3 white 4 brown and 2 of the brown are cranky they try to show my 3 easter Eggers and 2 olive Eggers they are the boss while he rest really don't bother the new chickens some like to hang out and check on the new girls . I've been adding new stuff in the run and letting them have brakes by separating them and hanging around with them all to ensure the two mean girls behave nicely. Wondering how long other had to keep a eye on things when adding to the flock

 

[rosemarythyme]

How long have they all been together now? How old/big are the new arrivals?

 

[Mrs. K]

Ages, and space and how that space is set up determines a lot of it. Do have multiple feed bowls, tucked away so that a bird eating at one, cannot see a bird eating at another.

If you have hide outs - clutter in your run, where birds can get on top of, or behind, or under - and out of sight, that allows them to work it out, which is much more effective and natural than people trying to interfere for a while, people don't generally live in the coup. So eventually they need to work it out.

As long as they are not bleeding let them be. The less you separate them, the quicker it goes. Each time you separate them, they start over.

Mrs K

 

[LoveChickens27]

Hello!
I would recommend watching Chickenlandias video of adding chickens to your flock. I hope this is helpful!

 

[902_Rooster]

How long have they all been together now? How old/big are the new arrivals?

They been together for 3 months

 

[902_Rooster]

I have 7 laying hens 3 white 4 brown and 2 of the brown are cranky they try to show my 3 easter Eggers and 2 olive Eggers they are the boss while he rest really don't bother the new chickens some like to hang out and check on the new girls . I've been adding new stuff in the run and letting them have brakes by separating them and hanging around with them all to ensure the two mean girls behave nicely. Wondering how long other had to keep a eye on things when adding to the flock

So the setup consists of a main coop and a little coop attached to the main coop with a hall that runs under the roost of the main coop. it has two runs one for the small and one for the big coop but ya have to go through the small run to enter the big run . I will add some more things to both and add more places to hide . Should I still let the new ones sleep in the small coop or try to get them all in the main coop .

 

[902_Rooster]

Hello!
I would recommend watching Chickenlandias video of adding chickens to your flock. I hope this is helpful!

Thank you I'll look for them

 

[902_Rooster]

Ages, and space and how that space is set up determines a lot of it. Do have multiple feed bowls, tucked away so that a bird eating at one, cannot see a bird eating at another.

If you have hide outs - clutter in your run, where birds can get on top of, or behind, or under - and out of sight, that allows them to work it out, which is much more effective and natural than people trying to interfere for a while, people don't generally live in the coup. So eventually they need to work it out.

As long as they are not bleeding let them be. The less you separate them, the quicker it goes. Each time you separate them, they start over.

Mrs K

I have a feed in both coops and runs will add more hiding spots and more feeding spots

 

[LoveChickens27]

Good job! Keep it up!

 

[902_Rooster]

They been together for 3 months most of the new ones are almost as big as the layers that are just over a year old .