Friend has friend that needs to re-home

[Navahogirl]

Hi everyone, I hope all is well happy Thanksgiving. I just have a question I have a friend that has a friend that needs to rehome 11 chickens I used to have 28 chickens, I am down to six chickens and a rooster. I wouldn’t mind taking these chickens in, but what is the process of doing this like, should I? How do you introduce another flock to your current flock and How will my rooster handle this How will my chickens handle this ?

 

[aart]

Is your coop and run big enough to handle the additional numbers?
Integration will go better with as much space as possible.

Here's some tips about integration.....

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article


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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Mrs. K]

Well the poster had 28 so probably has room.

Do not take anything you feel sorry for. You can ask about their health. Check them for mites or lice. I

A lot of people will tell you to quarantine - and the disease threat is real. If you would go into a state of decline if you loose some of your birds or have great sensibility, then don't get them.

And if these people buy chickens from auctions or show birds, well those birds have been exposed to strange chickens and could easily have picked something up.

But if they raise chickens kept similarly to you, I would take them in a heartbeat. There will be some you keep and some you cull. By adding that many at once, there might be a few skirmishes, but it should settle quickly.

Do put out several water and feed places throughout the run.

Mrs K