Adding new chickens to your flock?

[MairyMai]

Hey guys,

I am going to be adding some new chickens to my already existing flock. Yesterday I let them mix with my older flock and of course they established their pecking order quite quickly. I was a bit worried to leave them with each-other when I'm not around, so before I left I separated them for the night. Today I was thinking it might be better to put my new chickens in a cage inside the run so that they can be familiar with the other chickens without as much aggression taking place. What do you guys think the best way to do this is.

 

[Lauren Kim]

You should separate their coop and run in two with a fence, with the new ones on one side and the old ones on another, so that they will see each other and get used to each other without them touching them.

 

[MairyMai]

Thank you!

 

[chicken4prez]

You should separate their coop and run in two with a fence, with the new ones on one side and the old ones on another, so that they will see each other and get used to each other without them touching them.

X2

 

[MairyMai]

Thats why I thought my big fenced cage would work.

 

[chicken4prez]

Thats why I thought my big fenced cage would work.

I would recommend the half in half pen but if you feel like the cage will be better then that should work too. I've done the same thing and it works just fine.

 

[MairyMai]

Well, I think the separated fence would work better, however, I don't really want to buy/set the fence up, I'm looking for a quicker fix. But this was helpful, I'll consider it for sure. Thank you

 

[chicken4prez]

Well, I think the separated fence would work better, however, I don't really want to buy/set the fence up, I'm looking for a quicker fix. But this was helpful, I'll consider it for sure. Thank you

Extra fence is a lot on money, especially since you will only use a bit of it. Glad to help.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey guys,

I am going to be adding some new chickens to my already existing flock. Yesterday I let them mix with my older flock and of course they established their pecking order quite quickly. I was a bit worried to leave them with each-other when I'm not around, so before I left I separated them for the night. Today I was thinking it might be better to put my new chickens in a cage inside the run so that they can be familiar with the other chickens without as much aggression taking place. What do you guys think the best way to do this is.

How much room in coop/run per bird? (minimum recommendation for back yard flock is 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird) Were they free ranging yesterday? Since they have already had face to face meetings, and did not come to blood shed, I might wonder why you don't just let them continue without separation. Just b/c the common recommendation is to separate them with a fence for a time period, if they have already been together, and done well, I'd allow them to continue down that path. But only you know your set up, how much space available, what your schedule is and if you can be around to intervene if needed.

Things that will help: plenty of space in coop/run, extra and separate perch space, multiple feed/water stations. Plenty of out of line of site, and multiple height areas in coop and run, but no dead ends. Deep litter with a generous sprinkling of scratch grain.

 

[aart]

Hey guys,

I am going to be adding some new chickens to my already existing flock. Yesterday I let them mix with my older flock and of course they established their pecking order quite quickly. I was a bit worried to leave them with each-other when I'm not around, so before I left I separated them for the night. Today I was thinking it might be better to put my new chickens in a cage inside the run so that they can be familiar with the other chickens without as much aggression taking place. What do you guys think the best way to do this is.

LG has asked good questions for pertinent info.
Knowing more about your set up would help, size in feet by feet and pics are best.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock