Adding new chickens

[Freie Family Farm]

We have 6 bantams and may be getting 5 other chickens today. Whats the best way to introduce everyone so there isn't too much of a fight? We have a large 4x8 coop for everyone

 

[CluckerFamily]

I do the see and no touch for 2 weeks where the chickens are in the same area but separated by a chicken wire wall or a dog crate.
You may also want to quarantine the new ones to make sure they aren't bringing and disease or respiratory disease into your flock.

 

[Anne02]

We have 6 bantams and may be getting 5 other chickens today. Whats the best way to introduce everyone so there isn't too much of a fight? We have a large 4x8 coop for everyone

Well, you'll want to quarantine your new birds first, otherwise you risk bringing disease into your coop. Are the new chickens also bantams, or standard sized? You want to be really careful introducing them if they're standards.

 

[Freie Family Farm]

The person has no idea what breed they are and hasn't sent pictures yet. Im guessing standard size. I already planned on keeping them separate for a bit. Our current bantams im not worried about since they've put my 15lb muscovy drake in line. Im more worried the new chickens will get beat up by my current ones lol they're a tough crowd

 

[aart]

We have 6 bantams and may be getting 5 other chickens today. Whats the best way to introduce everyone so there isn't too much of a fight? We have a large 4x8 coop for everyone

That's going to be crowded.....and a small coop for integrating.
Do you have a run too?

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article


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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Freie Family Farm]

All of our birds (ducks and chickens) get free roam on 1/2 and acre. They just sleep in the coops. If anything, its our duck coop we have to expand. 4x8 may seem small but when you build up vs out, its actually not. They have more than enough room especiallysince our bantams are tiny. The person we were supposed to get the chickens from bailed anyways. So now I'm just going to hatch the ones we want.

 

[aart]

They have more than enough room especiallysince our bantams are tiny.

Well, sure all bantam is different than...

Im guessing standard size.

free roam on 1/2 and acre.

Free ranging don't mean squat when it comes to the RoostTimeRumble.

The person we were supposed to get the chickens from bailed anyways. So now I'm just going to hatch the ones we want.

That's good, then you'll have all bantams....
...and won't have to worry about bringing in pests or disease.
Happy Hatching!

I integrate chicks early, might interest you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[featherhead007]

I do the see and no touch for 2 weeks where the chickens are in the same area but separated by a chicken wire wall or a dog crate.
You may also want to quarantine the new ones to make sure they aren't bringing and disease or respiratory disease into your flock.

 

[Freie Family Farm]

No we are hatching regular sized chickens. Theres more than enough roosts for everyone AND no one will get pooped on. My husband is in the construction field and built me their coop as a Christmas present because he knows I want more animals. Happy wife, happy life right? Lol
Anyways, im excited to hatch the breeds we wanted. Plus there's talk of adding yet another coop plus 2 new coops for our ducks! I cant wait!