Introducing a new and older hen

[PureBarnevelder]

I currently have 4 Barnevelders, 3 Roos and a hen. They are less than 4 mo old and I need more hens before the Roos get active. I know I need to quarantine the new hen for some time before introductions,and I know to intro them slowly, the new hen is 6 mo old and about to start laying. I'm curios if I should expect any problems or if it would be ok to start a corid regimine as soon as I get her? Anyone have any advice? Thanks for your help.

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there,
You should quarantine for a minimum of 2 weeks for the safety of your flock. I always tell people you should never introduce just one hen to a flock - it's likely she will be picked at.
Anyway, since you already have the hen - quarantine where they can see her but not get near to her for the first 2 weeks. Then put her in a safe pen near the flock where they can all check each other out without pecking etc. I generally make the 'introduction' period about 7-10 days, depending on how I think they're doing.
Keep a very close eye on the hen, if they start pecking at her you may need to remove her and start all over again, good luck!

 

[PureBarnevelder]

Ok, great info Thank You so much! How about if I introduce another new hen about the same age? Would it be better to introduce 2 new unrelated hens at the same time to reduce possible bulling? I appreciate your input!

 

[boskelli1571]

Ok, great info Thank You so much! How about if I introduce another new hen about the same age? Would it be better to introduce 2 new unrelated hens at the same time to reduce possible bulling? I appreciate your input!

Possibly It would spread the picking a little thinner. Are you going to quarantine the new birds separately? If so, I would put them close enough to perhaps 'get to know each other', just in case they happen to get along. It will make their lives easier...good luck! Let me know how it turns out,

 

[PureBarnevelder]

Great info Thank You so much! Definitely separating with a fence and the Silver Laced Wyandotte didn't mind the 3 smallest but not the biggest Barnevelder roo. I've started both my birds and the new on a Corid regimen to make sure. Keeping my fingers crossed! Thank You for your help.

 

[aart]

Separated by a fence is not quarantine...medicating without need is not necessary.


Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from any bully birds.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best of mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

Another option, if possible, is to put all birds in a new coop and run, this takes the territoriality issues away.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[donrae]

I'm not sure why the corid? At this age, your new birds should have a good immunity to cocci already.

 

[PureBarnevelder]

I'm using the corid for the second and final time on my original 4 and figured it would be ok for the new hen. If I am incorrect please let me know.