Fox hit us/introducing 4 new hens to 1 hen and rooster

[laturcotte1]

Fox killed all hens except one and the rooster. Neither will come out of their coop now not even into the secured run. I have to feed them inside poor things. Anyway, they are both just 1 year old Barred Rocks, my plan is to get 4 more hens. I want the new girls at least a year old so they can stand up to the rooster and his sexual antics. Winter is right around the corner and I have to have them grown and trained to come in before the bad weather. How should i introduce them. Do I have to divide the coop and run in two again? Last time I had adults introducing to babies and divided are areas. Do you think Laverne the original will be picked on by the other 4? How is this so stressful? My DH thinks Im crazy , he says bring them home drop them in that's that.

 

[Tres Amigas]

Good morning! Unless you're willing to gamble with the health of your existing birds, I would not take your husband's advice to just "bring them home and drop them in." You could end up losing all of them if there are any health issues not apparent yet. A 30 day quarantine away from your existing flock will give you a chance to evaluate the health of the new birds while protecting the birds you already have. As far as integrating, there are numerous threads with different approaches. Good luck!