farm said to just integrate right away..not to worry about secluding

[nelgkel]

we originally bought 12 pullets~one was a roo~today we got 3 to replace the ONE LOL...well, we got them all from the same place and he said not to seclude them, just integrate them right away because they are all from the same farm...
I am extremely nervous that the 3 we got today can introduce something to the other 12(trying to find a home for the rooster)
one of them is a little smaller and getting picked on by the rooster! He is being aggressive..
we have had our pullets for almost 4 weeks...they are about 5 weeks old..
the 3 new are the same age...


HELP reassure me that I was right to listen to the breeder/farmer....
thanks for your help!
a newbie to backyard chicken farming

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

My first thought tends to agree with the farmer... it makes sense if you bought chicken's from him in the beginning and bought more from the same flock that they have possibly been in the same environment ect. But on the other hand you have to think about the whole integration process IE stress, fighting ect. and who knows if these chicken's were housed in a different pen or brooder that may or may not have developed a different level of bacteria..... or was exposed to a illness or parasite. Personally... I'm a nut about safety precaution's... Id keep the new girls in isolation to be on the safe side and then house them (after the isolation period is over) within sight of the original flock then section off an area for the new additions to use inside of the original's pen and finally allow free integration. That way they not only are kept seaparate for observation and you don't risk getting your girls sick AND there is less risk of injury to the animals. Just MHO.

 

[TipsyDog]

I agree with the farmer. You don't have anything to worry about! Good luck with your new chicks!

 

[nelgkel]

thanks for the reassurance...
BYC is great!!

 

[elmo]

Quarantining for disease is one thing. Pecking order integration is another. The three new birds will need to become assimilated into the flock. Just sticking them in there could result in some battles, so watch out for that. Some people have good luck putting in new birds at night, while others let them get used to each other in separate pens next to each other so they can see each other but not fight.