What you need to do to add an adult hen to a flock of 4. It is a bit of monkeying around, but in a week you will be done.
- Day 1Lock all the original birds out of the coop, put the new girl IN the coop. If there is a coop/run, feed along the run fence on both sides.
- At night, put her back into a crate or something, and let the original birds back in to roost.
- Day 2 - repeat day 1
- Day three - pick a middle of the flock original bird. Not the highest one, NOT the lowest one, but a 2 or 3. Leave the other birds in the coop, put your choice with the new bird out in the yard. Now there will be a little bluster, but with the space and one on one, it settles quickly. At night put the original back with the flock, new one back in the crate. Keep feeding along the fence line.
- Day 4 - repeat day 3
- Day 5 - turn everyone out into the yard. Stay out there for a bit and watch. Now if one of the original birds is heartless (and sometimes they are) put THAT bird into the coop. Leaving the rest out in the yard as late as possible.
- Put the ornery bird into the crate, and see if they don't all go into roost. If so that is good.
- Every two to three days - let the ornery bird back out with the others and see how it goes,
- I never have to do step 8.
