Best method for adding new chicken to your flock

[OHalAnimalFarm]

Hello BYC er's

New chicken owners here! We bought 5 chickens. About 3-4 months in 1 of our chickens turned out to a be a rooster so we had to find a new home for him. Just recently we lost one of our favorites to a disease.

We're down to 3 and contemplating adding to our flock.

Now we have 2 Barred Rock's and 1 Araucana ( the other Araucana was a rooster and our chicken that passed was a Buff Orpington)

Questions:

- What is the best method to introducing new chickens to a flock? Getting them as babies? Getting chickens that are the same age?
- We have heard that if we get them around the same age that it's best to put them in the roost at night. We're told the other chickens will wake thinking the new ones had been there all along.
- With new chicks we've been told to raise to 2-3 weeks old and put the small chick coop inside the big coop and or let them run in a large space so if there is bullying the little ones can get away.


All of your opinions are welcomed.

Thank you!

Felicia

 

[Den in Penn]

The best way is the way that works for you. There many ways it can be done. Raising chicks where they can get to know the flock before they mingle is the way I like to do it. Getting full or nearly full grown chickens and placing their pens side by side so they can see and interact through the wire before they are put together works well. Didn't say how old your flock is, but getting chicks that are younger would give you a younger age group, who would lay better then year old hens.

 

[Mrs. K]

don't add a single hen, add a couple nearly the same size, make sure you have plenty of room and some hideouts.

 

[Crysta]

I just posted my method in this thread (4th down): https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/850778/adding-a-new-chicken

It has always worked for me, no problems, and super safe but time consuming!

-Crysta

 

[aart]

Hello BYC er's

New chicken owners here! We bought 5 chickens. About 3-4 months in 1 of our chickens turned out to a be a rooster so we had to find a new home for him. Just recently we lost one of our favorites to a disease.

We're down to 3 and contemplating adding to our flock.

Now we have 2 Barred Rock's and 1 Araucana ( the other Araucana was a rooster and our chicken that passed was a Buff Orpington)

Questions:

- What is the best method to introducing new chickens to a flock? Getting them as babies? Getting chickens that are the same age?
- We have heard that if we get them around the same age that it's best to put them in the roost at night. We're told the other chickens will wake thinking the new ones had been there all along.
- With new chicks we've been told to raise to 2-3 weeks old and put the small chick coop inside the big coop and or let them run in a large space so if there is bullying the little ones can get away.


All of your opinions are welcomed.

Thank you!

Felicia

Do you know what disease it died from?
You may be risking any new additions if the disease issue has not been resolved.
Also bringing with in new adult birds, disease is something to consider...medical quarantine might be something you want to read up on.