Adding to flock

[Mamashe]

Hello everyone,

I currently have 13 laying hens that are approximately 10 months old. I want to add 10 more of the exact same birds to this existing flock, but the new birds will be 18 weeks old. Do I need to do anything special to integrate them together, or do I just put them all in the same coop. I have a 10 x 10 coop with a 10 x 30 run.

 

[Chickengirl2671]

I would quarantine them first if possible but after that put them together. There will be scuffles as they establish the pecking order but that's to be expected.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Really best to do a biological quarantine first: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/ then a see but no touch integration where the 2 sides can spend 1-2 weeks next to each other but with a fence in the middle.

 

[aart]

You'd be close to bare minimum for housing space,
and integration works best with more space.

But here's some tips about.....
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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Mrs. K]

You are basically doubling your flock, which is good for integration but can be very tough on space. More space is crucial, but how that space is set up is also important.

Inside the run, you need a lot of clutter. Mini walls, pallets up on blocks, leaned against a wall. Roosts in the run are a good idea too. Multiple hide outs, and multiple feeding places set up so that while a bird is eating at one place, they cannot see a bird eating at a different place. I like a feed station for about every 4-6 birds.

Another trick that works very well for me, is to lock the original birds out of the set up, and put the new birds IN the set up. This lets the new birds explore the set up without being chased for their lives, find hideouts, water and escape routes. Then let the old girls in as close to dark as you can.

To be honest, I think that if you do have enough space, and it is well set up, you won't have much trouble, adding nearly equal numbers to established flock, tends to be a bit of bluster and settle quickly. It is much harder to only add a small number to an established flock. More birds spreads the pecking out, and wears out the old ones quickly.

Mrs K