Flock Integration Advice

[Shanshan315]

Hi there! I’m new to this site so please forgive me if this has already been asked a million times.

I will be integrating four pullets into my flock of four this weekend. I’m doing the “look but don’t touch” method. My questions are these:

1) Once I integrate the new pullets, will they know to go into the coop at night? Will they follow the older girls?

2) We have a friendly dog who is in our yard with the free ranging chickens. Do you guys have any suggestions for new chickens and dog? I don’t want them to be terrified and/or fly over the fence.

thanks!!!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi there! I’m new to this site so please forgive me if this has already been asked a million times.

I will be integrating four pullets into my flock of four this weekend. I’m doing the “look but don’t touch” method. My questions are these:

1) Once I integrate the new pullets, will they know to go into the coop at night? Will they follow the older girls?

2) We have a friendly dog who is in our yard with the free ranging chickens. Do you guys have any suggestions for new chickens and dog? I don’t want them to be terrified and/or fly over the fence.

thanks!!!

Congrats on the new pullets!

First, did you quarantine the new pullets? If not, it's kinda too late to try, but know for next time. If you have, great!

I usually let mine forage in a large area together for a while after the look-but-don't-touch method.

In my experience, they will go to the coop instinctively. You can also put them in the coop for the first time at night when your existing flock is good and sleepy, and let everyone out in the morning.

Good luck! That's very exciting!!!

 

[kajetanwycz]

Congrats on the new pullets!

First, did you quarantine the new pullets? If not, it's kinda too late to try, but know for next time. If you have, great!

I usually let mine forage in a large area together for a while after the look-but-don't-touch method.

In my experience, they will go to the coop instinctively. You can also put them in the coop for the first time at night when your existing flock is good and sleepy, and let everyone out in the morning.

Good luck! That's very exciting!!!

When I first integrated the 4 chickens my neighbors had left after a coon attack into my 10 chickens I had, I didn’t quarantine them but instead put them in the run overnight. The next day, all the new chickens ran into a small part of the run we have under our main coop. I supplied them with food and water and watched them closely, and eventually they became apart of my flock. I think that strategy is probably the best especially if you have time on your hands, but feel free to argue against me.

 

[Aunt Angus]

No argument here. Gotta do what works for you and yours. I prefer to quarantine for 6 weeks to make sure I'm not introducing any latent illnesses into my flock. But if that worked for you, great!

 

[Shanshan315]

So we got our new girls today. Our older ladies don’t seem to even remotely care that there are chicks in the run (still separated). Is that a good sign? Will bullying still take place? I thought they’d be more interested or annoyed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I use "see and be seen" - and if I was letting new birds onto property, it would be after an extended quarantine, delaying the "see and be seen" period. As I hatch every three weeks (my own mutts), integration is always going on.

Abundance (space, food) is a social lubricant, so that will benefit you too.

Even so, "pecking order" involves - almost always - pecking. Expect there will be some poking and prodding and chest puffing and jumping, and yes, blood spots on the combs from other's beaks. Perfectly normal. Even sometimes, a little bit of feather pulling.

Only intervene in the case of signifcant injury around the eyes, or if the birds gang up and start attacking another bird around its vent. That can go sideways pretty quickly.

and yes, the new birds will copy the nesting and sleeping arrangements of the experienced birds, with a couple accidents along the way. Physically picking them up and placing them in the nesting boxes, or on the perches, is likely unnecesary.