Adding New Pullets To My Flock of 1 year old Hens

[mertzy1963]

I will be getting 3 new 22 week old pullets soon, I currently have 5 1 year old hens and am looking for any advice on the best way to introduce the new girls.

 

[azygous]

Being aware of what issues it presents to add three new almost six-month olds to a flock of still immature birds that will outnumber the newcomers will help you anticipate the problems you might see come up.

First, the home crew outnumbers the new crew. This will bolster the home crew's inclination to bully, and the smaller numbers of the new crew make it much easier for the bullies to target victims. Chickens that are still as young as one year are inclined to be worse bullies to newcomers. Why? Because it's fun. Older chickens seem not to find it such great sport to torment youngsters.

Second, the new crew may feel intimidated by being thrust into a new environment and by having less numbers. This can easily cause a situation where the new crew become habituated in a victim role, presenting chronic conflicts.

The best way to integrate in your situation is gradually and with plenty of space when they later are allowed to mingle. I would keep the two groups separate but within view for at least a week before allowing limited periods of mingling. Adequate space is crucial especially if aggressive breeds are involved. Free ranging definitely will help the situation if that's possible.

Providing a vertical feeding station for the three newcomers is an easy way of alleviating competition at the feeder. I install an old card table where the youngsters can find refuge and eat in peace. This really makes a difference.

The easiest most effective integration is a gradual one over three weeks with increased periods of exposure. This can involve time and effort, especially at evening roosting time. You can ease the newcomers into the coop by waiting until the older girls have settled in, then installing the three new ones on a perch farthest from where the home crew chooses to roost. Again, adequate space is crucial. You may need to referee for a couple weeks each night.

It could be an effortless integration or it could be a lot of work. It depends on the individual temperaments involved. But be assured, they will all learn to get along, and you should see it before a month is up.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I've always found placing them in there at night helped a bunch. They still went through their pecking order but it always seemed to go pretty smoothly!

 

[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