Adding 2 new pullets and introducing new coop

ash_en_em

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I posted this in another forum with no responses so maybe I put it in the wrong one, but I'm going I can find help here...

I currently have 3 Austrlorps, two pullets and a cockrel (we didn't anticipate being a cockrel) who are coming up on 3 months old. The current prefab coop/run we bought will become the bachelor pad during his angsty teenage period, and am almost dont building a new coop that is 6'11" long by just over 3' wide and 4' tall, with nest boxes coming out of the coop. The run will go underneath the coop, and extend and extra 4' .

At the end of this month my plan is to get two more Australorp pullets ot the same size and age. My question is, can I just integrate them all into the new coop at the same time, or should I still separate them (see the new girls but not get to them)? I was thinking since it will be new to everyone that it would go smoother in theory, but am not sure since I'm new to all of this. I know our crockrel will need some more ladies so no one gets excessively picked on, we'll need a bigger coop, and I want more chickens so I thought I'd do all of it at the same time.

All words of wisdom are welcome and appreciated. Thank you in advance.
 
After quarantine (should you wish to to do so) you can put both groups into the new coop at the same time. Space, multiple feed stations and physical barriers / objects within the run will ameliorate any bullying.
Thank you for the advice. Any suggestions on barriers/objects?
 
I posted this in another forum with no responses so maybe I put it in the wrong one, but I'm going I can find help here...

I currently have 3 Austrlorps, two pullets and a cockrel (we didn't anticipate being a cockrel) who are coming up on 3 months old. The current prefab coop/run we bought will become the bachelor pad during his angsty teenage period, and am almost dont building a new coop that is 6'11" long by just over 3' wide and 4' tall, with nest boxes coming out of the coop. The run will go underneath the coop, and extend and extra 4' .

At the end of this month my plan is to get two more Australorp pullets ot the same size and age. My question is, can I just integrate them all into the new coop at the same time, or should I still separate them (see the new girls but not get to them)? I was thinking since it will be new to everyone that it would go smoother in theory, but am not sure since I'm new to all of this. I know our crockrel will need some more ladies so no one gets excessively picked on, we'll need a bigger coop, and I want more chickens so I thought I'd do all of it at the same time.

All words of wisdom are welcome and appreciated. Thank you in advance.
You should quarantine to make sure you are not spreading disease, and then yes, keep them in the coop behind wire. A week of seeing-but-not-touching should do the trick.
 
You should quarantine to make sure you are not spreading disease, and then yes, keep them in the coop behind wire. A week of seeing-but-not-touching should do the trick.
Quarantine is great, assuming one has the space to do so effectively and it's possible to detect symptoms of viral issues etc. See no touch may not apply since a new coop is neutral territory.
 
Quarantine is great, assuming one has the space to do so effectively and it's possible to detect symptoms of viral issues etc. See no touch may not apply since a new coop is neutral territory.
That's kind of what I was thinking with the new territory... or hoping for anyway. I really don't have a ton of space for quarantine. Not without moving my current 3 into the new coop, putting the new 2 into what will be the bachelor pad, and then doing see no touch. The breeder is a reputable one from my general area, and I don't believe she would sell me an ill chicken.
 
That's kind of what I was thinking with the new territory... or hoping for anyway. I really don't have a ton of space for quarantine. Not without moving my current 3 into the new coop, putting the new 2 into what will be the bachelor pad, and then doing see no touch. The breeder is a reputable one from my general area, and I don't believe she would sell me an ill chicken.
I've read that around 150 yards is what one should aim for with quarantine. I certainly couldn't do that. I'm not suggesting to scrap the idea, but just keep in mind that it may not be foolproof.
 
Nothing is truly foolproof, but generally speaking, healthy looks healthy. Do NOT ever add something you feel sorry for. I would be leery of adding birds from a swap or auction, but I know people who do without a qualm.

Yes you could add a disease, but you are talking a couple of birds that is what you are risking. If it would put you into a state of decline, then don't add birds.

As to the original poster's question: Chickens hate change, do it all at once, pull the rooster, add the new birds with the other birds into the new coop. No one has home court advantage, and 2 birds + 2 birds of the same size and age, should be pretty good.

Pallets, old ladders, roosts in the run while making your run look cluttered, make it much more interesting to chickens. They can get up on or down under, sit in the shade or bask in the sun. It lets them get away from each other, out of sight for a few moments can really help with a flock.

There might be a few scuffles, add them close to dark, and let them figure it out.

MRs K
 

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