Need tips on adding to flock

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boomboomvw

boomboomvw

Hatching
Aug 8, 2015
3
0
7
Sussex County, NJ
First time chicken owner. Had 8 pullets, now 14weeks. lost one to a huge opossum the other night.

I am debating adding 2 17week old chickens from our local Farm supply store.

what do I need to do to integrate them? or how long does it take?
 
When I do it I just put them into together and not worry about it. There might be some pecking order. Good luck with what ever you decide.
 
gamebirdsonly said:
When I do it I just put them into together and not worry about it. There might be some pecking order. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Click to expand...
This can work OK if you have lots of experience and lots of space.....
......but I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie.
boomboomvw said:
First time chicken owner. Had 8 pullets, now 14weeks. lost one to a huge opossum the other night.

I am debating adding 2 17week old chickens from our local Farm supply store.

what do I need to do to integrate them? or how long does it take?
Click to expand...
I would not add any more chickens at this point, until you get some experience under your belt.
First, fix where ever the possum got in.
How and when did the death occur?

Then consider biological/medical quarantine....probably impossible unless you have 2 separate housing setups far (200-300 feet) apart. You don't want to start your chicken keeping experience with possibly bringing in pests and/or disease.
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

Third, consider the space in coop and run, most often it is best to keep new birds separate but adjacent(after bio quarantine) for a period of a few weeks to a few months. More space = easier integration. Crowded space can equal a blood bath and a lot of stress for birds and keeper.
How big is your coop and run(feet by feet)?
Could it be easily divided?
 

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