Adding new hens to your flock

[paddyg84]

How easy is it to add new hens to your flock? I am quite new to this have 4 hens and have had them for 2 weeks now. Enjoying having them and now think I would like to get a few more. My coop is def big enough for at least two more. What do I need to know about adding to your flock?

 

[hunt]

I never did anything I have added a few times and I would just get them and as soon as I got home with them I would put them in .They would fight for a few minutes and then they would just boss each other around trying to express their domanance after about a day or two they would be happy and fine.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

The biggest thing you should do is be concerned the new birds will being illness to your existing flock. That being said, quarantining properly is very difficult to do. If you can't quarantine, check the new birds over for pests and suspicious behavior. Birds that are hunched over or fluffed up generally don't feel well. If you get them a place that's clean and provides fresh food and water they'll likely be fine, but things happen. Good luck.

 

[tarasmith474]

Hi

We recently lost two birds (white star and speckeldy) to suspected cases of eimeria and now have one bird left (aged approx 18 months), a skyline.

I'd like to add two new birds to keep my skyline company but am not sure about how to quarantine.  Do I need to quarantine POL chickens? I read that day old chicks don't need a quarantine period; but I'm assuming they can't just go in with my existing bird. 

Given my two other birds died of a disease, I wouldn't want to spread this to the new birds. Should I re home my existing bird and start from scratch? Would you advise moving my run to new ground and disinfecting the whole hen house?

Any advice would be great appreciated as I have enjoyed keeping chickens and wouldn't want to stop keeping them. 

Many thanks