free ranging new chickens with old chickens

[Ecatt08]

Hey y'all. First post here. I have a white Jersey Giant trio that have been free ranging all day for about 3 months now. They put themselves up at dusk, all is well with them. 3 days ago I got 2 Brahma and 2 Americauna hens. They've been locked up in the coop/run for the 3 days I've had them. When do y'all think would be an appropriate time to let them free range? I was thinking of letting them out about an hour before dusk but I am worried its still a little early to let the newbies out. What do y'all think?

 

[FridayYet]

Welcome to BYC!

I think you have a good plan - just open the door to the run like you said, and see what they do, Have you been calling them with treats? I like to train mine to come running when I have food, which makes it easier to catch them if I ever need to.

Good luck with your flock!

 

[Ecatt08]

The old trio come running with the shake of a cup of scratch! haha. But i just got the new ones, from a kind of rough situation (overcrowding,locked up all day, etc), and they are still a little weary of me. I am hoping that they'll become a little more personable.
Thank you!!!

 

[FridayYet]

Trust me, the new ones will be running to that sound of scratch in a cup in no time!

I'm sure the new ones will learn you are nothing to be afraid of, even if they never become lap chickens.

 

[aart]

Are they getting along with the exiting birds in the coop and run?
Have the new birds been going in to roost with the flock ok?
If so, I would think the free range for an hour around dusk would work.
.....or maybe leave all the birds confined to coop and run for a few days might be a good idea.

 

[Ecatt08]

Meh. They're getting along okay. Still establishing the pecking order it seems. One of the Brahmas is sort of replacing one of the Jerseys as top lady and she isn't too happy about it. But the rooster has accepted them all. The 2 Americaunas are getting picked on a little by the Brahmas as well but they came to me with bald spots so I'm assuming thats been happening a while. I am letting the old trio out all day and just putting them together at dusk when its time to roost and they're roosting together just fine.

 

[FridayYet]

That's good news

They'll figure out the pecking order pretty quickly.