How do I introduce new chickens?

[ka002]

I have 11 week old silkies and I am getting two new 12 week old girls to add (one this week, one next week)


What is the best way to go about integrating them?

I am most concerned from a health perspective, so is there anything I can do (apart from isolate the new girls) to ensure they’re healthy before introducing them?

Secondarily how do I ensure a smooth and speedy acceptance? I know I need to do the ‘see but don’t touch’ but can I do this at the same time as the isolation or do they need to be further away?

I want it to be as seamless as possible but I have never done this before so appreciate any tips from those who have done it!

Thank you

 

[Cheekychook11]

You could put some wire in between so they can interact and sort of touch but not harm each other, that’s what I did to introduce my older chicks to younger chicks, if you’re concerned about quarantine I would isolate them

 

[aart]

I am most concerned from a health perspective, so is there anything I can do (apart from isolate the new girls) to ensure they’re healthy before introducing them?

Do you plan on truly isolating to check for disease?
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
...and will you isolate the two new ones(I assume from different sources)from each other?

If not at least do a thorough bug check.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[ka002]

Do you plan on truly isolating to check for disease?
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
...and will you isolate the two new ones(I assume from different sources)from each other?

If not at least do a thorough bug check.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

This is awesome, thank you so much! And yes I plan to isolate them… however I am wondering what the best route to do this is.

I was planning on using the puppy pen I had for the others (which is in the house) for a couple of weeks, but I don’t want them to be bored. So I was wondering if it is possible to put the new girls into a run outside so that the current chooks can see them, to help speed up their integration, or if it’s best to just keep them as far away as possible until I know they are ok and then start allowing the other babies to see.

EDIT: I just read the full article (which is so helpful by the way, thank you for sharing!) and I think it’s answered those questions

 

[ka002]

You could put some wire in between so they can interact and sort of touch but not harm each other, that’s what I did to introduce my older chicks to younger chicks, if you’re concerned about quarantine I would isolate them

Thank you! I think I am mainly worried as I love my current babies so much and would hate myself if something came in from an outsider. Even though the breeder says that they’re super healthy etc of course you just never know and I’d rather play safe!

 

[ka002]

Is there anything I can do to treat them preventatively when I get them or is it better to just wait and see?

Sorry for all the questions, I’m still learning!

Do you plan on truly isolating to check for disease?
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
...and will you isolate the two new ones(I assume from different sources)from each other?

If not at least do a thorough bug check.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[aart]

would hate myself if something came in from an outsider. Even though the breeder says that they’re super healthy etc of course you just never know and I’d rather play safe!

Then it's best not to bring in new birds other than hatchery chicks.

Is there anything I can do to treat them preventatively when I get them or is it better to just wait and see?

No. You can't treat anything if you don't know what it is.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

So, first you quarantine, then you begin the "see-no-touch" method of integration. After a couple of weeks of letting the birds get accustomed to each other, then you can remove the barrier and let them mingle, and there should be no problems. All this takes time but it's well worth it in the long run.

 

[Apis mellifera]

When chicks are 8 to 9 weeks old I just put them in the coop after dark. I've never had any issues.