Four New Hens

[Lucy's Coop]

Hello, I'll try & make this short,I wrote a small book last night with this question but I can't find it or any helpful answers from all you Awesome BYC friends & chicken veterans. I have 9 hens that are 7 mths old. Five Dominiques ( that are laying now) Four HUGE BLK & blue orphingtons (that aren't yet) and a huge white orp Rooster. I got four new birds they are four mths old 2 buff orps & 2 blue laced red wyndottes. They are still in quarantine 3wks now. My most important question is this after ALL the reading I have done here, I will definitely try the "put the new girls on the roost after the coops retired for the night" and pray when they wake they will be like "oh these new chicks" lol. Then I know the pecking order will begin again but hopefully No Fights. #1 question don't laugh lol , I'm keeping my new girls in a big dog crate in an old existing coop till 30 days are up. Will they know how to sit on the roost when I put them in my girls coop "that night"?
And my orps are so big I worry if my nesting boxes are big enough for them four they are Huge ladies. I've seen two of them jump in & ck them out,but no eggs yet from them. Should I fix tthem up another larger box to nest in?

 

[Kiki]

Great looking birds.

If you are considering the cage with the buffs in it, just outside the fence from the other birds quarantine....you can forget it.
That is not proper quarantine and they will all have been exposed to any illness already.

You might as well go ahead and put them all together now because it looks like they have no room in the dog cage.

Yes they should know how to roost.

 

[chickens really]

I introduce Chickens while free ranging....You cant trick a Chicken into thinking the new ones have always been there just by popping them on the roost at night....let them out to mingle as you watch them....

 

[aart]

You cant trick a Chicken into thinking the new ones have always been there just by popping them on the roost at night

Exactly....
...Like bobbie-j sez: "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid."

Tho that has worked for some, I certainly would have plan B in place.
Lots of space is key.


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.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Mrs. K]

From the viewpoint of the camera you are going to have quite a few birds in a rather close space. Which will make the integration much harder. There is going to be fighting, pecking and feather pulling. If it not better with in a week, you may have to cull some birds or build a bigger set up.

What are your dimensions? No tricks will out play too crowded of space.