Adding new pullets to a young flock

[CapeCodCoop]

Hello,
I have 4 young hens all around 4-5 months old. I’m adding 2more 3 month old pullets in 2 months. Is this easier than adding to an older flock? I’m assuming I should still quarantine before introduction

 

[Mrs. K]

Is there a reason that you are adding them in two months? Because it is easier to add chicks, using the size difference to create a safety zone, that the chicks can come out of, or retreat into if needed.

The younger they are - the less chance of disease. I would not even quarantine them.

Mrs K

 

[CapeCodCoop]

Chicks aren’t going to work in my house. I’m a dog trainer and have clients dogs at my house frequently. I don’t want chicks and dogs in the same space.

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh, I wan't thinking of raising them up in the house, I was thinking of adding them to the hen house directly. I add my chicks at 3-4 weeks. And I was calculating that they were about a month old now.

Each of us do it differently.

A trick I have used when adding older birds, is to put the new birds out in a cage - the see don't touch. But after just a day or two, I put the older birds in the cage, and let the new birds explore the coop and run without being chased. This gives them knowledge where the hideouts are and some territorial rights. After a day or two like that, I let the old ones out, as close to dark as possible, and the urge to roost is about as strong as the urge to fight.

It has worked for me.

Mrs K

 

[CapeCodCoop]

Do you think I should quarantine them? The pullets that is

 

[my21chickens]

A trick I have used when adding older birds, is to put the new birds out in a cage - the see don't touch. But after just a day or two, I put the older birds in the cage, and let the new birds explore the coop and run without being chased. This gives them knowledge where the hideouts are and some territorial rights. After a day or two like that, I let the old ones out, as close to dark as possible, and the urge to roost is about as strong as the urge to fight.

i agree with Mrs. K, this is a good method! I've used it and it works great. what I usually do, is I let them all free range together for a few days. they see each other but don't really even go near each other. now, I don't know if this would work for everyone's chickens but it works perfectly for mine. then once I want them in there, ill either just put them in there or ill use Mrs. K's method! good luck!

 

[my21chickens]

Do you think I should quarantine them? The pullets that is

i dont personally. never have. but thats a different story with grown birds from a different farm

 

[PetalandHens]

i agree with Mrs. K, this is a good method! I've used it and it works great. what I usually do, is I let them all free range together for a few days. they see each other but don't really even go near each other. now, I don't know if this would work for everyone's chickens but it works perfectly for mine. then once I want them in there, ill either just put them in there or ill use Mrs. K's method! good luck!

This will be my first time introducing new hens. I have 2 hens ~ 2 years old and want to add 2 more here before winter.

Chicks need to get to 6-8weeks to be totally outside (I’m in MN so evenings still cool even in summer), but start to do some look/don’t touch around 4weeks?

And then some coop/run space swap (old hens out, new hens in).

and co-mingling free range > is that better done when older pullets? Do I have to worry about the hens being aggressive with young chicks?

Thanks, much!