Adding the new girls to the flock

[cruisnmoma]

Sometime in the next 2 months we plan on getting 2 new chicks. We have 6 reds right now that are 2 yrs old. To keep up with the eggs, we are thinking about adding 2 girls every 2-3 yrs. Right now we are only getting 3-4 eggs a day....that we can find. One of the girls was hurt by a dog, and is still something of an outcast,plus she is not laying. I am thinking she might never lay again, but that is ok, they are my husbands pets/hobby. They keep him sane...lol. When the new ones are old enough to add to the group, we were thinking about introducing our outcast to them first, to kinda help her bump up in the pecking order, and to build up her confidence. Then add them all to the main group. Right now they have free run of about 1/2 an acre, but over the summer they have a huge run to keep them out of the garden. The run can be split to keep the little's safe, but they will all see each other. At some point, we would put the new girls in with the main group into the main coop after they all go to sleep. Does this sound like a good way to add new ones to the group? this will be out first time adding anything new. I want to have a game plan before we pick up any babies.

 

[aoxa]

Sometime in the next 2 months we plan on getting 2 new chicks. We have 6 reds right now that are 2 yrs old. To keep up with the eggs, we are thinking about adding 2 girls every 2-3 yrs. Right now we are only getting 3-4 eggs a day....that we can find. One of the girls was hurt by a dog, and is still something of an outcast,plus she is not laying. I am thinking she might never lay again, but that is ok, they are my husbands pets/hobby. They keep him sane...lol. When the new ones are old enough to add to the group, we were thinking about introducing our outcast to them first, to kinda help her bump up in the pecking order, and to build up her confidence. Then add them all to the main group. Right now they have free run of about 1/2 an acre, but over the summer they have a huge run to keep them out of the garden. The run can be split to keep the little's safe, but they will all see each other. At some point, we would put the new girls in with the main group into the main coop after they all go to sleep. Does this sound like a good way to add new ones to the group? this will be out first time adding anything new. I want to have a game plan before we pick up any babies.

Sounds like a great plan.

Around 8 weeks is a good age to integrate. They will be bullied for a while. It's normal.

 

[Mattsiewrt94]

Yes that's a great way I did that with mine letting them being able to see the new chickens for awhile till they actually come face to face they still will be pecking at eachother but not as bad