Adding a New Girl?

[JulieN]

I have 3 Wyandottes & one Silkie bantam in my city flock. They are all very gentle & range around the backyard all day. I've been dying for an Orpington and our local feed store has pullets that were hatched on 2/11. Would it be alright to get one and just add her to the flock after a quarantine of a few days? Our nights have been getting down to 30's but we have a bulb in the coop to keep it warm. Any suggestions?

 

[Omran]

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You can do that, but you need a week time to introduce the new bird to the old crew, by let them free range together under your supervision, and by let them see each other but no contact (like through a chicken wire wall or such, then you can mix them.

 

[JulieN]

Thanks! I have a tractor in the yard, so I could put the new girl in the tractor & let the others hop all over it if they want to. I just didn't want her to get lonely.

 

[JulieN]

Is it ok for her to eat the layer pellets when she finally joins the flock? I was planning on getting a sm bag of grower for her, then crossing her over to the big girl food.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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I've always read that you should introduce no less than two newbies at a time, if you can. That way the bullying is spread out a little bit when they do their inevitable pecking-order redistribution.

 

[bantybev]

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I've always heard not to give pullets layer feed until they are close to laying age, or have laid their first egg. The calcium level is too high and can cause problems in their growth. I will have the same problem soon, as I am introducing my young pullet (who was hatched Jan 13 2010) to my big girls. I am planning on using up the layer crumbles before I mix the younger one in and switching to flock raiser with oyster shells and baked egg shells free choice in a small dish. I've heard the "big girls" will eat it when needed for the extra calcium. The flock raiser has more protein than the layer feed, but it will be warm enough out for them to eat a lot of vegetables and grasses to offset the higher calcium. At least that is what I have read

You can always do a search for "layer pellets for pullets" and read other members suggestions. This forum is awsome for opinions and advice