Introducing some new girls... Need advice..

SOO.. We have 4 ladies now that are about a year and half old. Very healthy, they have yogurt every day. We are "inheriting" 4 additional ladies tomorrow and I'm a bit nervous as my current flock is my first. I've read a lot about quarantining.. I've read a lot about flock dynamics.. Are there any other tips you may have? I will get to pick the ones I want, what should I look for in a "healthy" hen? Any tell tale signs that scream not that one?

Thanks everyone

Well, totally quarantine. I quarantine for 3 weeks well away from the existing flocks, then on the 4th week i put the newbies in a pen where they can see their new lock but neither can get to each other. Then, after a week of this, i add the new ones in during the night after the rest of the flock has already started roosting. This is what i do, and it works for me pretty good.

ok, you probably know this, but i will say it just in case. After you first introduce the birds they will fight. Keep and eye on them but by all means don't interfere unless one is getting seriously injured (like more blood than a little scratch). Chickens have their own pecking order. The top dog (or chicken in this case) is basically the queen. She can peck every single bird in the flock, and no other chicken can peck her. Next in line can peck every single bird in the flock except the queen. The list goes on depending on how many birds you have in the flock. Finally you get to the last one. She is kinda the scapegoat, especially in flocks over 15. Everyone can peck her, but she can peck no one. I've noticed in large flocks the last one usually does not lay as well.

Your birds have their own pecking order, and when you add new birds, everything gets messed up. They have to figure the pecking order out again, and this usually takes around 2-4 weeks for me before everyone starts acting friendly to each other again.

As for healthy, look for birds with bright clear eyes, colorful feathers, and that move normally. Avoid birds with droopy wings, tail, head, or eyelids, dull feathers, and feather loss.

Hope you enjoy your new birds, good luck!