New members of flock..

[Cocohens]

Hi all,

Unfortunately I had 3 hens die that past week or so of gapeworm! Horrendous! I have two healthy girls left and want to get them 2 or 3 more friends.. they have a large coop and large run and I usually let them out to free range everyday. I don’t have any other coops or enclosed spaces to put the new members of the flock.. what is the best way of introducing them? I understand there will be a bit of pecking etc in order to establish a new order.. would love some advice on this??
Coco

 

[chickenlittle21]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-chickens-step-by-step.72815/

 

[chickenlittle21]

Sorry for your loss

 

[Cocohens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-chickens-step-by-step.72815/

this is really helpful thank you! But I only have1 coop for sleeping... does it make a difference if I add 3 birds to the 2 that I have now... giving the new birds the advantage of one extra hen??

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot is going to depend on your set up, and actual space. If you are in a very small set up this is harder.

Yes it is better to add 3 to two. Try it this way. Get your new birds early in the morning, or keep them contained in a dog crate for the night. Let your original birds out of the coop/run to range the yard. Put the new birds in the coop/run and lock them in there. If you are worried about egg laying, put a cardboard box or something similar near the door where they would go in.

Let the new birds explore the coop/run. This lets them get things figured out, before being chased. Set up multiple feed bowls, and use a cardboard box, or a tote, with the back turned toward the inside of the run, so that a bird eating at this station is out of sight of other birds. Other hideouts, roosts, platforms in the run help immensely.

Feed some scratch along the fence line, on both sides so the new girls and the old girls come to eat, with just the fence between them.

As late as possible, near dark, let the old girls into the coop. The urge to roost, will be nearly as strong as the urge to fight. Get down there early the next day, to see how things are going. If it is going rough, repeat.

I have had very good luck with this, but I do have enough space.

MrsK

 

[Cocohens]

A lot is going to depend on your set up, and actual space. If you are in a very small set up this is harder.

Yes it is better to add 3 to two. Try it this way. Get your new birds early in the morning, or keep them contained in a dog crate for the night. Let your original birds out of the coop/run to range the yard. Put the new birds in the coop/run and lock them in there. If you are worried about egg laying, put a cardboard box or something similar near the door where they would go in.

Let the new birds explore the coop/run. This lets them get things figured out, before being chased. Set up multiple feed bowls, and use a cardboard box, or a tote, with the back turned toward the inside of the run, so that a bird eating at this station is out of sight of other birds. Other hideouts, roosts, platforms in the run help immensely.

Feed some scratch along the fence line, on both sides so the new girls and the old girls come to eat, with just the fence between them.

As late as possible, near dark, let the old girls into the coop. The urge to roost, will be nearly as strong as the urge to fight. Get down there early the next day, to see how things are going. If it is going rough, repeat.

I have had very good luck with this, but I do have enough space.

MrsK

THANK YOU!! That is the most wonderful advice. I am lucky to have quite a lot of space, so I will try this and hope for the best. I want to do it sooner rather than later as I don’t want my two girls to get lonely! Currently I have one brown and one ayam cemani, both very friendly girls. I’m hoping to add another brown, a legbar and a barred rock to the mix. If you have any other thoughts I’d love to hear them!Thank you again,
Coco

 

[Shblack]

We have a fairly large coop (about 25’ x 10’) so I built a partition across the end, screened with wire with a door. Partitioned area is set up with its own feeder / waterer & roost. We put the new members in the closed area, and let them see / interact with the others. If the birds are much younger they stay in the area till they are good sized. After some time I open the door and let them mingle - so far it’s worked. Just got a couple of feral hens locally, they had been roosting in trees. They will be staying in the closed area for a while till I’m sure they recognize the coop as home.