Adding a tortoise?

[thewatsonfarm]

So it looks like we may be inheriting a tortoise. Not sure what kind yet. A realtor friend has a client with three of them that they need to re-home when the move. I agreed to take one. Tortoises are apparently loners and more than one is trouble. (So we may be adopting a traumatized tortoise?)

My first loyalty is to my hens. We have a flock of five who free-range all day in the yard, and there is plenty of room & cover and greens available to everyone. We get a lot of other birds in the yard, and occasionally a rabbit, and the girls don't seem to mind sharing. (Well, occasionally Buttercup, my light brahma, will get a bit territorial & chase the rabbit, but no actual contact.)

Should I expect any trouble between the flock and the tortoise, do you think? Anyone have a similar experience? Any advice???

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sara Ranch]

Introduce slowly, but definitely introduce.

When I bring new animals onto the ranch. After they spent some time distressing from the move, I take them around and introduce them to all of the other animals. Sometimes I do this just once, sometimes I do it multiple days.

I do it for the animals in the immediate vicinity that the new animals will be in. Eventually everyone gets introduced.

If it were me, I'd do a small fenced area for the tortoise so the checkins can get use to him on their terms. Move the space around, make it bigger, make it disappear in a week.

Where is the tortoise going to sleep to be safe from predators? Get his water from?

 

[aart]

Boy, never heard of this one!
Wonder if a Tortoise forum would garner more info?
But here's a search here on BYC:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/4816687/?q=Tortoise&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

 

[lazy gardener]

Yep, this is a new one.