Area in coop/run for adding new chickens to flock

[woodenfarm]

I am trying to plan to add new chickens to flock when I get home from the beach late this week.

I am wanting to make a look but no touch area so they can get used to each other for a week then open them up. Hoping to get some pictures of what some have done for this.
I have no pictures with me of the coop but we have turned a horse stable into a coop. It has milk crates for nesting boxes and big wooden roost.

Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many and what age are you thinking about? It sounds like you probably have quite a bit of room in the coop. That really helps.

I'll show you what i did. This is actually a brooder with the top acting as a droppings board. It's elevated with the bottom made from 1/2" hardware cloth. When I'm brooding chicks that need heat I put a piece of plywood under the lamp, but if it is warm enough no lamp is needed, they walk on the wire. The poop drops through the wire, though once they get to maybe 15 weeks the poop starts to stick with 1/2" hardware cloth. I have the same set-up in my grow-out coop. With young chicks that keeps it clean and dry.

With the wire bottom, it acts as a broody buster when it is available. A word of warning. Some wire has sharp nubs from the manufacturing process, these can tear up their feet. But they will all be on one side. If you put those sharp nubs (if it has them) down so they walk on the smooth side it's not a problem. I've also isolated chickens in this.

There are plenty of other ways to do this. I like to build as much flexibility into these things as I can.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Ridgerunner, always hits the nail on the head!
I’ve also seen two inch netting keeping the two flocks together and feed along the fence to where they get used to eating together. But it’s like courting, you do a little bit at a time, and as the days pass they get more interaction with each other. Each date getting more acquainted with each other till they are ready to join. Slow and steady though. No need to rush!

 

[aart]

I have a temporary wire and wood wall I put up for brooding and integrating chicks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
There is a second people door for my access and second pop door to another run that is not actually touching but in view of the main run.

Lots of different ways to do it.
Pics of your setup would help immensely once you get the sand out of your shoes.

 

[woodenfarm]

I have 10 ladies that are a little over a year old and will be adding 7 ladies that are about to start laying so close to 4 months old.
Will see if I have some pictures to add when I get better service later today

 

[woodenfarm]

Here is what we have to work with

 

[woodenfarm]

Here is what we have to work with View attachment 1467907 View attachment 1467908

 

[woodenfarm]

Well the app has gone crazy....
Sorry for the several post

Anyways would it be ok to just make an area in the coop and keep them in there? It says shady all day in the coop and we are not really wanting to cut another door for them to go in and out of the coop

 

[aart]

Anyways would it be ok to just make an area in the coop and keep them in there? It says shady all day in the coop and we are not really wanting to cut another door for them to go in and out of the coop

Looks like you have adequate space there to split the coop.
You could just keep them in the coop, but it would be better if they could go outside too.
Do you have a run?
Might be a good time to build one, that could be split and placed where both sides of coop could access it.

Here are my notes on...
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.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's a nice area. You certainly can fence off an area and keep then in there. It should work as well as anything else as far as integration. If you are going to do this on a regular basis you might want to think about what Aart said, come up with a way to allow them some outside time. That could be building something outside or cutting a hole and fencing off part of a run.

With seven that age you'll need a reasonable sized area with their own roosts. With the nests on the coop floor, the roosts don't need to be that high. It does not have to be a ladder roost, they should be able to fly up to it. Don't expect them to sleep on the roosts with the older hens until they start to lay. You probably want them to continue sleeping on this roost when you merge the two groups.

Good luck!