Advice Needed! New to flock Intros for new chickens

[Malthegal]

Hey there!

I am in need of some help from some experienced folks. Long story short.. my existing flock was recently attacked by raccoons, sadly I lost 2 of my chickens one night and than almost lost 2 more the next night (thankfully we ran out just in time and the 2 were still alive). We decided to completely revamp the coop and upgraded to a much larger coop that will be able to be locked up much better for my 5 girls. However... unexpectedly the person we got this coop from also let us know he had 5 chickens he was looking to get rid of (of course since I was talking their house I couldn't just abandon them so we brought them home) and now I have 10 chickens that are in need of integrating together...which I have never done before.Not to mention I will have to eventually introduce my existing flock to the new flocks coop as their new permanent coop. The two flocks are both separated still in their respective coops but in view of each other so they can safely interact if they want to but don't have physical contact, I have the best intentions for my girls but they have been under a lot of stress lately and I just want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Any advice ?

Thank you all so much

 

[TwentyOneChickens]

Hey there!

I am in need of some help from some experienced folks. Long story short.. my existing flock was recently attacked by raccoons, sadly I lost 2 of my chickens one night and than almost lost 2 more the next night (thankfully we ran out just in time and the 2 were still alive). We decided to completely revamp the coop and upgraded to a much larger coop that will be able to be locked up much better for my 5 girls. However... unexpectedly the person we got this coop from also let us know he had 5 chickens he was looking to get rid of (of course since I was talking their house I couldn't just abandon them so we brought them home) and now I have 10 chickens that are in need of integrating together...which I have never done before.Not to mention I will have to eventually introduce my existing flock to the new flocks coop as their new permanent coop. The two flocks are both separated still in their respective coops but in view of each other so they can safely interact if they want to but don't have physical contact, I have the best intentions for my girls but they have been under a lot of stress lately and I just want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Any advice ?

Thank you all so much

Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you here!

I am sorry for your losses. You should look into preventing more attacks. (Where did it happen, and how?)

This is a good tutorial for combining flocks:

 

[TropicalBabies]

Aloha and welcome to BYC!
Sorry for your loss and trauma
That was a super cool video but the nice farmer is not introducing a flock from outside of his flock really and is not addressing the different pathogens/bugs carried by unknown flocks from different locals. So, with that said, I think you have a little bit of work ahead of you- but it will all be well worth it in the end- I am fairly new to chickens so I am going to get some of this wrong and lack details and good verbiage. I always bow down to the BYC gurus. (disclaimer) It would be easier to not respond but I think not having caution and going too fast can be dangerous to your flock(s). So, I chime in.
You are going to want to keep them separate and observe the new flock for a minimum of 2 weeks to make sure no one is sick (go more if you can). Calm the stress of a new move and an attack. Get the girls settled. So, you are going to have to make sure two separate flocks are safe and secure, watered and fed for a bit. Then you can introduce them through the fence for another 2 weeks. Well, if it were me.... and it has been, that is what I would do. I would also bleach the heck out of the new coop and add vitamins to their water for the same reasons. Congrats on the new coop BTW. You are certainly on the right track.
Photos of areas and coops and flock is always helpful in assessing the situation. So if you can add some images that may help the well intended give better advise.
Stay well and keep us posted. Photos ALWAYS welcomed

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not bleach the coop - a lot of fumes are not good for chickens, just give a good brooming out and add good bedding. I have never washed a chicken coop. I would look for parasites, and treat, but only if needed.

If all of the chickens can see each other, quarantine is a moot point. The fact that you have the same number of old and new, and a new place and a new coop... well let all that discombobulation work for you, and mix the birds up too. This will take a little flipping things around, but I think it would be worth it.

I would put the strange birds in your current setup early in the morning, putting the your original birds in the new set up. Let them both explore, then shortly before dark, mix them all together, and shut the old coop up, so everyone goes to the new to you coop. I have my coop attached to a run, so am hoping you do to, leave the pop up door open.

In the run, have a lot of hide outs, multiple feeders and waters. You might have a few skirmishes, but I would really expect very little. You might have a single bird or two that become very aggressive, if so, put them in the other set up for a few days.

But even numbered birds, same size birds, a new coop to one group and a new home to the other group... pretty even.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Not to mention I will have to eventually introduce my existing flock to the new flocks coop as their new permanent coop. The two flocks are both separated still in their respective coops but in view of each other so they can safely interact if they want to but don't have physical contact, I have the best intentions for my girls but they have been under a lot of stress lately and I just want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Any advice ?

I might be missing something, but are there 3 coops or 2?
Are there runs attached to coops or all free range?
Give the new birds time to settle in.
Some pics of your set up would really help here.

...also...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

.... meanwhile 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.