Adding chickens?

[Mamasan7]

We started out with 6 chicks in march and once they were old enough to tell we found out one was a rooster so we found a new home for it. Then we had 5.
2 nights ago one was found dead, no wounds at all, but it was in the 90's and we think it might have died from the heat?
Now we have 4 chickens left.
They are 5 month old and we would like to add 4 more chickens of approx the same age.

We do not have any means of keeping them separate and letting them get used to each other, will they fight if we just introduce them?
Would it be better not to get new birds?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

By adding 4 chickens to your existing 4 there probably won't be too much fighting; definitely less than if you just added one. It may take a week or two for them to rework the pecking order.

 

[Lbrad7]

There will be some scrapping in the beginning but since you are adding the same amount of birds and birds that are approx. the same age they will be fine. Just expect a little fussing the first few days then they should settle down.

 

[Mamasan7]

Thanks for the replies, I was very nervous at the thought of fighting but also worried that our little flock is getting smaller!
We moved the coop into the shade and the remaining 4 chickens are not panting from the heat at all now.

I'm hopefully going to check on the new chickens today sometime.

Thanks again!

 

[saladin]

It was 108F on the chicken yard yesterday afternoon before services. 90's shouldn't kill your birds especially so young. Either it was a defect within the bird (like heart) or you have disease of some type on the place.

The trouble with adding birds is not the fighting as much as the disease they potentially bring in or will pick up. A quarantine period of 2 ot 3 weeks is always recommended.