Adding new pulle

[Unearthed wonder]

New to chickens We rescued a beautiful 14 week old pullet today that has been caged since hatching. I would love to intergrate her in with our other 14 week old pullets. She has clipped wing, and was petrified of the grass and breeze when we brought her home. She took 3 hours to stand up. She has been eating and drinking and was walking around eating grass and exploring a little by the end of the day. She is really weak and lightweight compared to our others. We have kept her on the outside of the chickens yard. The others have been ridiculously noisy and curiously watching her through the fence all day. How do we make this work? She is currently inside in a box with a cuddly toy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Pork Pie]

Just my thoughts, but I'd be inclined to keep as she is until she is confident in her new surroundings as has gained weight / looks healthy before attempting mixing her with the others. Since the flock can already see her, you are on the right track to integrating her. These links may be interesting:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

Good luck

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Try putting her in a large dog kennel and put it near the coop so she gets used to the chickens but isn’t getting pecked.

 

[Shadrach]

New to chickens We rescued a beautiful 14 week old pullet today that has been caged since hatching. I would love to intergrate her in with our other 14 week old pullets. She has clipped wing, and was petrified of the grass and breeze when we brought her home. She took 3 hours to stand up. She has been eating and drinking and was walking around eating grass and exploring a little by the end of the day. She is really weak and lightweight compared to our others. We have kept her on the outside of the chickens yard. The others have been ridiculously noisy and curiously watching her through the fence all day. How do we make this work? She is currently inside in a box with a cuddly toy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Quarantine her for 30 days before you introduce her to your flock.

 

[Unearthed wonder]

Just my thoughts, but I'd be inclined to keep as she is until she is confident in her new surroundings as has gained weight / looks healthy before attempting mixing her with the others. Since the flock can already see her, you are on the right track to integrating her. These links may be interesting:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

Good luck

thank you

 

[Unearthed wonder]

Try putting her in a large dog kennel and put it near the coop so she gets used to the chickens but isn’t getting pecked.

We were just discussing this option. We may be able to get one more hen from the same place. Would it make integration easier? Or will this cause more stress on the one we already have?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

If the hen you already have likes and doesn’t fight with the new one it would be nice so it has a friend.

 

[aart]

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

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

 

[Unearthed wonder]

If the hen you already have likes and doesn’t fight with the new one it would be nice so it has a friend.

I think we may go beck and see if we can get one tomorrow. Thank you

 

[Unearthed wonder]

If the hen you already have likes and doesn’t fight with the new one it would be nice so it has a friend.

Funnily, went back to get 1, came back with 2 and they have been happy as anything, cuddling together as if they knew each other forever, exploring, trying out their wings and loving the cuddles from my 4 and 6 yr olds. Other hens are interested, squeaking a little, yet, mostly paying the new chickens not much attention.