ANOTHER how to add to flock question (but a bit different!)

[dmhoob]

Hi!

We had a flock of six, 1 year old hens. 2 days ago two were killed by an animal while free-ranging. We want to add 2 more hens to our flock and was wondering about the best way to do it. We will be able to get full grown hens, so the size shouldn't be an issue. My feeling was to do it as soon as possible before the pecking order is re-established? The way our coop and run is set up it would be near impossible to partition off a section. Should i just put the new ones in at night and hope for the best? Also will the new ladies learn from the veterens..about going back into the coop at night?

Thanks.

 

[BarefootMom]

I think I would probably just let them figure it out on their own.

I bought 10 ducks recently and they are adults. I just let them out in the yard when I got home, they picked up the routines pretty quick and even went into the coop at dark.

 

[Judy]

I suggest you look at biosecurity before doing this, and do it safely. Too many posts on here lately about adding chickens without isolation, and resulting disaster.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[RaspyRoosterFarms]

I wouldn't worry too much about hens, roosters definitly, but hens you should be fine, They will most likely fit right in and be forgotten by feeding time

 

[cubalaya]

quarantine! this takes about thirty days. then you can put new birds in with yours.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
Please put new birds in quarantine for at least 30 days. If they are carriers of an illness and the stress of the move triggers it your whole flock could be wiped out. Do not introduce new birds with out a 30 day quarantine.

 

[bburn]

quarantine and then build a temp run and housing....even a tote with a hole cut for them to go in.....and do this inside their run so they all see each other....after the 30 day quarantine for about a week...then let them out to free range together.....pecking order starts over....

 

[mama24]

I introduced a new hen a couple mos ago. I tried just putting her in with the others, but they attacked her, so I had to go and rescue her. Then I just put her in on the roost that night, and when they got up in the morning, it was like she'd always been there. They did have to establish that she was the lowest in the pecking order, but she didn't mind that and has been fine. She was from a friend who only had 3 girls, never been sick, so I didn't bother with the quarantine.

 

[Pharm Girl]

I did what you're never supposed to do and added just one to my flock last summer. I made her a sectioned off area in the coop using plastic hardware cloth and staples. At night she was on the roost with the others, yet separated by the cloth so they couldn't damage her. By day I locked her in the run and let the others free range. They could see her, but not get to her. We went like this for about a week until they were used to her presence. I let them free range for a day or two and one evening found her on the other side of the hardware cloth with the others for bed time. She's been great ever since.