Add a pair of young hens

[Homeschool hatcher]

Hi!
At the moment, we have 6 chickens in total which are nearly 18 weeks old. 3 of them are cockerels which are being rehomed tomorrow. We are now left with a buff Orpington, a silkie and black rock.

I wanted to replace the cockerels with a pair of hens similar in age.

1. is this ok?

2. if yes, which two chickens will be suitable
3. How do I integrate them?

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Hi!
At the moment, we have 6 chickens in total which are nearly 18 weeks old. 3 of them are cockerels which are being rehomed tomorrow. We are now left with a buff Orpington, a silkie and black rock.

I wanted to replace the cockerels with a pair of hens similar in age.

1. is this ok?

2. if yes, which two chickens will be suitable
3. How do I integrate them?

To integrate them, put the new hens in a cage near the older ones so they can see each other. Then, after a few hours, let them out together.
There will be a bit of fighting, the new hens will need to find their place in the flock.
If they are a bit too picked on, separate the young hens again.

 

[Mrs. K]

The see no touch is a good idea, but I would reverse it. Put your original birds in the dog crate, and put that into the run. Then let the new birds explore the run, and coop without being chased for their lives.

Make sure your run is set up with hideouts, roosts, platforms so that birds can get away from each other if needed and out of sight. Set up two feeders, but set them up so that a bird eating at one station, cannot see a bird eating at another station.

Then let the original birds out of the cage very close to dark, so that the urge to roost is nearly as strong as the urge to fight.

As to breeds, I would get what you want. The silkie is always a bit of a worry, as they tend to be small, keep an eye on her.

Mrs K

 

[CluckerFamily]

I do a see and no touch integration but I do it longer than most people. I normally do 2-3 weeks of this, and everyone fits in well together, no fighting. In the last 7 years, I have successfully integrated 2 rooster and 2 batches of chicks with this method.

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot depends on the set up, if you are in a tight, pre-fad coop, one needs a lot more time of the look no touch. If you are in a large opening, it takes less time.

Original poster - what does your coop and run look like? What are the measurements. Do remember, that your birds are not full grown, and what was more than enough room for chicks, often times is not near enough room for full grown hens.

I missed it, when I read the first post, but often times, people want 6 birds, because the pre-fab coop they bought said it will hold 6 birds. And they don't. If that is what is the case here, you would be much better just keeping the 3 birds you have.

Mrs K

 

[Homeschool hatcher]

Here is my set up. The coop can fit 8 large chickens. The third pic shows all the chickens I have, 3 of them are cockerels which are being rehomed tomorrow. I Would only want to add two more, not more than that, I was thinking of getting two small hybrid chickens. But want all your opinions.

 

[aart]

The coop can fit 8 large chickens.

Ummm....that might be what the manufacturer says, but....
.....I'd guess that coop is about 4 x 4', perfect for 3 birds.

 

[kelzey]

i personally wouldn’t add more into your flock once you rehome the cockerels- overcrowding is never fun

 

[Mrs. K]

Where do you live, generally speaking. If you are in the far south, you might get away with it, they probably will roost on top of the "coup", If you are north enough to have winter, that is not big enough for 8 birds.

Mrs K