Adding new hens

[4chicksmom]

I want to add 2 more hens to my 3 that we already have. All 3 of mine are not quite a year old.I don't have the space to quarantine or for baby chicks. So I'm looking to get ready to lay hens which in my area are about $25 to $30.
My question is, how is to best integrate them?
We have a Tractor supply small coop with only 1 roosting bar, do i just stick them on the roost at night and hope for the best? My 3 chickens currently free range in our back yard within city limits, so it's not big. Or do I just let the 2 new ones out and let them sort out the pecking order first?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you don't have the space for quarantine or chicks, do you realistically have enough space for a total of 5 adults?

 

[4chicksmom]

We did have 5 in the summer, one being a rooster that I gave away, because we're not allowed to have them. And up until Christmas we had 4 laying hens. And because I'm within city limits, our backyard isn't exactly big enough to keep 2 sets of chickens separate, but if they're 1 flock, then there is sufficient space, I think for 5. I wouldn't be able to fit more than 5 in the coop.
I know most everyone is about quarantine and all, and I do understand the risks of bringing new birds in, but currently that's my only option. When my 4 were laying in the late summer/fall, we had enough eggs for our family. However, from what I've read, it seems that adding at least 2 birds was the recommendation, so that's why I'm going with 2 more.
Is my flock small enough where I can add only 1 new bird?

 

[rosemarythyme]

then there is sufficient space, I think for 5. I wouldn't be able to fit more than 5 in the coop.

More specifics would help here, or photos. How large in floor space is the coop? How long is the roost? Can another roost be added because that by itself could be problematic for newcomers.

Is my flock small enough where I can add only 1 new bird?

Any introduction is tough, but 1 bird is always going to be the hardest. It's still 3 vs 1. With a 2nd bird that helps "share the load" as far as any possible negative attention. However if you simply don't have the space as noted above, then tensions could be even worse due to crowding.

 

[4chicksmom]

Here's the coop that I have. Tractor Supply says it fits 6 hens. I 'fixed' the roosting bar, because it was way too narrow for mature hens. All 3 of them sleep on the same bar, usually huddled for warmth right now. We had 5 in there, but they were just about laying age, so not as big as mature hens would be.
Went to the store today and a dozen of regular eggs was $9. So adding 2 more hens seems like a solid choice. Just not sure how to best go about it given the limited space.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here's the coop that I have. Tractor Supply says it fits 6 hens. I 'fixed' the roosting bar, because it was way too narrow for mature hens. All 3 of them sleep on the same bar, usually huddled for warmth right now. We had 5 in there, but they were just about laying age, so not as big as mature hens would be.
Went to the store today and a dozen of regular eggs was $9. So adding 2 more hens seems like a solid choice. Just not sure how to best go about it given the limited space.

Without measurements I can only guess, and this looks like maybe 3x3, 3x4 at most? On BYC the recommendation for an integrated flock is 4 sq ft per bird inside the coop, 1 linear ft per bird - you may need even more than that during integration.
You're also lacking in ventilation, even if you leave the pop door open, and increasing the number of birds will also increase moisture and ammonia in the coop.

The reality is you need a bigger coop. You can try converting what you have to use up the entire space as the coop (instead of mini coop over mini run), assuming you otherwise have a larger run or free range the entire day - instructions below. Or you add the extra birds as planned, cross your fingers, and have a plan to rehome them if it doesn't work out.

CONVERTING COOP instructions

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[4chicksmom]

Without measurements I can only guess, and this looks like maybe 3x3, 3x4 at most? On BYC the recommendation for an integrated flock is 4 sq ft per bird inside the coop, 1 linear ft per bird - you may need even more than that during integration.
You're also lacking in ventilation, even if you leave the pop door open, and increasing the number of birds will also increase moisture and ammonia in the coop.

The reality is you need a bigger coop. You can try converting what you have to use up the entire space as the coop (instead of mini coop over mini run), assuming you otherwise have a larger run or free range the entire day - instructions below. Or you add the extra birds as planned, cross your fingers, and have a plan to rehome them if it doesn't work out.

CONVERTING COOP instructions

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

Thanks! I was wondering how to make my coop bigger and that was a great example! I was already thinking of converting our old playhouse into a coop, but this seems like a better idea. I free range, so we don't really use that run. Their favorite spot is to hang out by the patio door and beg for snacks all day anyways.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also got sidetracked and forgot to address the initial integration concern...

So in your case I'd do the following:

1) Enlarge the coop space along the lines of the coop conversion posted above.

2) Can you borrow a very large dog crate or small dog exercise pen, something maybe 4x4 or so, or even use temporary fence panels (Home Depot has some easy to stake out metal panels if you need an example) plus some netting on top to create an enclosure in your yard for 2-3 weeks. Put it somewhere that gets a bit of shade and put a small feeder and waterer inside. You're obviously skipping biological quarantine, but if you can put out the 2 new birds during daylight hours and let them get used to the old ones with the safety of a fence, that will at least let them familiarize themselves with one another first.

3) At night, during this integration period, if possible bring the new birds into the garage or a shed to spend the night. Again a dog crate would do fine for that. I'd save the coop as the last stage.

 

[Amphitecna]

This is great. I'm in exactly this same situation as thr OP. Urban garden, free ranging chooks with space for one coop. Our henhouse and run are built large enough to accomodate 8 large-breed hens (think sussex). So we re OK with 5. The run has lots of levels and spaces to be out of sight.

I appreciate the advice here, because I too am concerned about logistics during the integration period. I can only dream about a second coop for quarantine/injury healing/jail (but my good girls would never need the latter ). Several of my friends who've had urban chickens for years independantly told me just to give everyone a couple drops of CBD and put the new girls in the coop at night while everyone is sleeping. They wake up and work things out themselves. They've never had problems. I live in France so maybe it's a French thing.

Not sure how I feel about this tho. Works for them and has for years. Have any of you tried this? Your suggestions above seem more comfortable for me, so I'll put in a little enclosure and see how things go with the advice posted here.

@4chicksmom howd it go?

 

[4chicksmom]

This is great. I'm in exactly this same situation as thr OP. Urban garden, free ranging chooks with space for one coop. Our henhouse and run are built large enough to accomodate 8 large-breed hens (think sussex). So we re OK with 5. The run has lots of levels and spaces to be out of sight.

I appreciate the advice here, because I too am concerned about logistics during the integration period. I can only dream about a second coop for quarantine/injury healing/jail (but my good girls would never need the latter ). Several of my friends who've had urban chickens for years independantly told me just to give everyone a couple drops of CBD and put the new girls in the coop at night while everyone is sleeping. They wake up and work things out themselves. They've never had problems. I live in France so maybe it's a French thing.

Not sure how I feel about this tho. Works for them and has for years. Have any of you tried this? Your suggestions above seem more comfortable for me, so I'll put in a little enclosure and see how things go with the advice posted here.

@4chicksmom howd it go?

I started another

This is great. I'm in exactly this same situation as thr OP. Urban garden, free ranging chooks with space for one coop. Our henhouse and run are built large enough to accomodate 8 large-breed hens (think sussex). So we re OK with 5. The run has lots of levels and spaces to be out of sight.

I appreciate the advice here, because I too am concerned about logistics during the integration period. I can only dream about a second coop for quarantine/injury healing/jail (but my good girls would never need the latter ). Several of my friends who've had urban chickens for years independantly told me just to give everyone a couple drops of CBD and put the new girls in the coop at night while everyone is sleeping. They wake up and work things out themselves. They've never had problems. I live in France so maybe it's a French thing.

Not sure how I feel about this tho. Works for them and has for years. Have any of you tried this? Your suggestions above seem more comfortable for me, so I'll put in a little enclosure and see how things go with the advice posted here.

@4chicksmom howd it go?

It wasn't going well at first. I have another thread, but I don't know how to link it to this reply.
It's been a couple of weeks and things have settled down. All 5 of my hens even rooster together on the same roost. So that's progress I'd say. I have built them a run in the past week, and they have been in the run the last 3 days, so far very minimal 'bickering'. I still see the 3 chasing 2 new ones away from food sometimes, but that's to be expected. They even worked out the nesting box situation i had in the other thread. I'd say they're as integrated as it's going to get.