Adding new hens to my flock

[Stephnrobby]

You have lots of room in the coop. In central Alabama yours should have access to the outside every day, which helps. You said they free range. If that is both groups you have it made if they've both been free ranging at the same time for a few weeks.

That looks like a ladder roost to the left. Not sure how long it is or if the top is higher than the nests. Doesn't look like it. From the poop, it looks some may be sleeping on top of the nests anyway. I personally don't see a problem with that as long as they are not sleeping and pooping in the nests.

If both groups have been free ranging for a few weeks I'd try moving the young ones into that big coop at night. That's even if they have not been mingling together, just tolerating each other. That's equivalent to housing them where they can see each other as far as getting them used to each other, you are just a step ahead. Wait until it is dark and pick them off their roosts, then put them in the dark main coop. Use a flashlight but keep it as dark as you can. Don't give them enough light that they can cause problems. If all your older ones are sleeping on top of the nests I'd put the new ones on the ladder roosts. If some are sleeping on the ladder roosts I'd put the new ones on the coop floor and let them work it out in the dark. They will be OK. Then be down there at first light to see how it is going. It may be pretty peaceful or you may need to open that pop door and let them out. Repeat this process until they put themselves to bed in the main coop and you are OK with them together in the morning. That might be one night, it may take a few weeks. I've had groups do both as far as going to bed. If they don't go to the main coop at night they will probably return their old one so they should be easy to catch at night. I've never seen any real aggression in the morning but I consider it good practice to make sure. Each group is different. This is the way I do it but mine are typically 10 to 12 weeks old, not six months.

If they have not been free ranging together it gets more complicated. If they are housed where you can just let them free range for a couple of weeks and return to where they now sleep, let them before you try the above. Or you can fence off a part of that big coop and house them in there a week or two in a look but don't touch situation before you let them out during the day.

Dad would have just taken taken them to the main coop in the morning after the others were out and about and turned them loose. He free ranged like you do and it was not a problem with younger chicks. But he was OK with them sleeping in trees, not sure you are. I'm trying to give you the best chance of them sleeping in that coop.

If any start sleeping in the nests put up another roost higher than the nests and move any in the nests to that higher roost at night. They should soon get the message.

Good luck. With that much room I think you have a good chance of it going pretty smoothly.

My chickens are spoiled and they only free range when I'm home due to a chicken hawk that keeps getting them. I'm just going to integrate my babies when they get old enough. They hatch this Wednesday. I decided not to buy the other 6 hens.

 

[Stephnrobby]

For sure, plenty of space to build an 'isolation' space and a separate run.


Was wondering that too.
...and roost spacing looks a bit tight.

Yes it's a heat lamp for the colder nights only, my girls are spoiled. And they have plenty of room to roost. The gate to the left is one roosting spot they love roosting there and in there nesting boxes

 

[aart]

in there nesting boxes

UHG...bad habit you may regret.
But you don't seem open to suggestions....so I'll move on.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm just going to integrate my babies when they get old enough. They hatch this Wednesday. I decided not to buy the other 6 hens.

My brooder is in the coop. I put chicks in there straight from the incubator or post office, even if the outdoor temperatures are below freezing. As long as one area is warm enough in the coolest temperatures and one area is cool enough in the warmest conditions they do a really good job or regulating their own temperatures. To me the biggest challenge to brooding out of doors is the wild temperature swings. I've gone from the 20's to the 70's in 36 hours. The brooder has to be able to handle both.

I have a lot of area outside fenced in. A 12' x 32' main run and an additional 45' x 60' in electric netting. My adults spend practically all day every day outside except for when laying eggs. Since mine are essentially raised with the flock my integration consists of opening the brooder door when they are 5 weeks old. That's it, I just walk away. It can be that easy.

Even if you were willing to brood in the coop I'm not sure you have time to set it up. So what I suggest is that you build a "grow-out" pen in that big coop you have. Or finish off that other section where you are planning on building that coop. I don't know what you have for a run, but either section off part of your run or build a new one that shares a fence. Make a way to let the chicks out into their section of the run. After they have been across the fence from each other for a few weeks, try integrating them.

Will this work each and every time? It does for me but it's always possibly you have one of those hens that is a true brute. Or you may not have much room outside. If they are shoehorned together there is a lot more risk. They need room and I don't know how much you have in a run. Occasionally free ranging them doesn't count.

 

[Mrs. K]

so much advice and we are all thinking of all that space you have with envy. And of course all advice comes from experience quite different than perhaps yours. So here is mine...

The outside area - with the roof- I would not make another coop, I would fence that as a run. I would even extend it so that part of the run is covered with the present roof, and part is out in the open. I like to let mine wander around, but there are times when it is good to be able to lock them up and keep them safe.

• if you get hit by a predator
• if you want to go on vacation for a few days
• if you want to add more birds

A good secure run, is a very important asset when raising chickens.

Mrs K

 

[Stephnrobby]

I'm open to suggestions or I'd not be posting here. Only occasionally do I find one roosting in the nest

 

[Stephnrobby]

I like that idea

My brooder is in the coop. I put chicks in there straight from the incubator or post office, even if the outdoor temperatures are below freezing. As long as one area is warm enough in the coolest temperatures and one area is cool enough in the warmest conditions they do a really good job or regulating their own temperatures. To me the biggest challenge to brooding out of doors is the wild temperature swings. I've gone from the 20's to the 70's in 36 hours. The brooder has to be able to handle both.

I have a lot of area outside fenced in. A 12' x 32' main run and an additional 45' x 60' in electric netting. My adults spend practically all day every day outside except for when laying eggs. Since mine are essentially raised with the flock my integration consists of opening the brooder door when they are 5 weeks old. That's it, I just walk away. It can be that easy.

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Even if you were willing to brood in the coop I'm not sure you have time to set it up. So what I suggest is that you build a "grow-out" pen in that big coop you have. Or finish off that other section where you are planning on building that coop. I don't know what you have for a run, but either section off part of your run or build a new one that shares a fence. Make a way to let the chicks out into their section of the run. After they have been across the fence from each other for a few weeks, try integrating them.

Will this work each and every time? It does for me but it's always possibly you have one of those hens that is a true brute. Or you may not have much room outside. If they are shoehorned together there is a lot more risk. They need room and I don't know how much you have in a run. Occasionally free ranging them doesn't count.

I like that idea for the babies. Mine don't really have a "run" they really just go out in yard...we have 5 acres

 

[Duckfarmer1]

My chickens are spoiled and they only free range when I'm home due to a chicken hawk that keeps getting them. I'm just going to integrate my babies when they get old enough. They hatch this Wednesday. I decided not to buy the other 6 hens.

Honestly, you have the room and I’ve integrated many groups of pullets to hens...its really not that bad with the space and the look, but no touch, is key...as long as they are quarentuned to be safe, and then a slow integration, I’ve had no issues...with the spaces to hide. I had to cull one rooster, but I had three.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hey, You will need to keep them separate for a while to make sure that they are healthy. Once you are user that your new ladies are healthy you will need to introduce by the see but not touch method. This is where you put the new birds in the established birds environment but do not allow any contact. This way they established flock can get to know they new additions with out any injury. After some time, say several weeks you can then integrate the new members at night.

A sigh I look for is this. Once the established flock pretty much ignores the new member in their safe enclosure that is the time to officially integrate them. I put my new birds in the coop at night so they wake up together and let them out as normal. There will be a pecking order, I allow this to commence as long as their is not aggressive tension. The flock will peck each other to establish the hierarchy of the order. It may take a few days for the flock to come to a decision. after a week or so they should have come to an agreement of each members position.

as long as their is not blood drawn or injures sustained I do not interfere in the process. Keep an eye on them though in case there is an issue.

Its not too bad, it can kind of scare a new owner, but as long as the flock is ok you will be fine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes it is a heat lamp. We've had a few nights in the 20's and I keep my flock cozy.

I'd really reconsider the heat lamp. Unless you're raising new chicks in a brooder in the coop, they definitely don't need it and it's more of a fire hazard than anything else. They can fall, the bulbs can shatter, someone recently even had a bird somehow get lodged into one. Chickens can tolerate below freezing temps without a problem as long as they have protection from wind and rain, which your coop looks like it handles without issue.

On the plus side you really do have coop space plenty for quite a good number of birds (most of us have nothing near as big, so we're jealous!) so even without adding a second coop like you're suggesting you should be able to grow your flock without the issues that many others face.

I'd adjust the roost too to be higher with rungs a little more separated but if you're satisfied with their current sleeping habits then that's not a huge deal to me.