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introducing new chickens?

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post #1 of 7

6/21/12 at 11:48am

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Chikas123

Location: Oregon
Joined: 4/2012
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so I have 11 chickens about 3 months old and I have just gotton 3 other baby chicks im scared to introduce of fear they will beat up the babies?

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post #2 of 7

6/21/12 at 12:00pm

ChickaBamBam

Location: NW Indiana - LaPorte County
Joined: 4/2012
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I am using the play pen method that I learned here: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/06/integrating-new-flock-members-playpen.html to introduce a six week pullet to our 15 wk olds.

The blog article is by a member here: ADozenGirlz

So far it is working really nicely. The older chickens hang out and even nap next to her pen.

post #3 of 7

6/30/12 at 9:40am

ADozenGirlz
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Quote:

Originally Posted by ChickaBamBam

I am using the play pen method that I learned here: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/06/integrating-new-flock-members-playpen.html to introduce a six week pullet to our 15 wk olds.

The blog article is by a member here: ADozenGirlz

So far it is working really nicely. The older chickens hang out and even nap next to her pen.

I'm so happy to hear that the playpen method is working for you too! Thanks for sharing. :)

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post #4 of 7

7/30/12 at 3:52pm

PamSCooper

Joined: 7/2012
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Thanks for this playpen tip. The last introduction of newbies ended in bloodshed and lots of battles. This time I used your playpen method and kept the new hens in the run while the others free-ranged outside. After a week I opened the run and everyone got along fine.

post #5 of 7

7/30/12 at 6:43pm

labpac4

Joined: 4/2010
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Playpen is a great idea. I just went through the exact same thing with five chicks being introduced to my 2 yr old hens. I didn't know the playpen trick so I used a large dog crate. It worked great. The babies were in the crate while the big girls checked them out. This went on for about three days then I opened the crate door (and left it open) while I supervised play time in their run. The big girls were curious and chased them a bit. So I supervised playtime for another three days before feeling good about allowing them to be in the run together unsupervised. Then the big night came about five days later when I introduced them into the coop to sleep. Hens were a bit testy first couple of days until everyone found a roosting spot they could be happy with. But now its been a week and a half and everyone is settling nicely. Chicks at one end; big girls at the other.

Good luck:)

post #6 of 7

7/31/12 at 10:24am