Adding a newbie!

[Rosangeldelmar]

Okay soooo...I have 12 week old novagens/isa browns and 9 week old silkies. Just rehomed a roo and am replacing with a barred rock that is 6-9 weeks the fever is real y’all. What’s the best way to add the newest member?

 

[CHlCKEN]

Free range is the first step. Let them spend time together on neutral grounds. At this age pecking order is being established and going through lots of changes, so it’s a good time to integrate. After lots of interactions, split the run in half. Allow them to interact in the same space all day but without being able to get to one another. After a few weeks, allow them to be together full time. If things nod not go well, you are back to square one.

 

[Mrs. K]

Adding a single bird can be a difficulty. It might be better to take one of your current chicks, and put that bird with the newbie, while you do the see but not touch. Then a week or so later add the pair.

However, just recently someone else, added a replacement chick just like you are talking and reported back there was no problem at all at that age. So I would try it, and watch and see.

MRs K

 

[aart]

Free range is the first step. Let them spend time together on neutral grounds. At this age pecking order is being established and going through lots of changes, so it’s a good time to integrate. After lots of interactions, split the run in half. Allow them to interact in the same space all day but without being able to get to one another. After a few weeks, allow them to be together full time. If things nod not go well, you are back to square one.

This is confusing...let them free range together then put them in a split run?

You don't want to free range a new single bird, it may run off and never come back.

 

[Rosangeldelmar]

This is confusing...let them free range together then put them in a split run?

You don't want to free range a new single bird, it may run off and never come back.

I too am overwhelmed with so many different suggestions online! So...I brought two home last night and stuck them straight in the hen house on a roost. I let them out this morning and watched them for a bit. They got pecked a few times but not tooooo bad. It’s windy here so they all went back in the run and I’m watching them crossing my fingers!

 

[CHlCKEN]

This is confusing...let them free range together then put them in a split run?

You don't want to free range a new single bird, it may run off and never come back.

Hmm, you are right. This isn’t something that applies to everyone.

Just put them in the split run, and follow those steps.