Getting ready to start - have some concerns

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You are doing a great job. Just continue with the love and care and everything will fall into place. It's hard when you lose a chick, but we learn from it and are better prepared for any sickness or disease that might present itself.
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Thanks for the support, I don't feel like I am doing a good job, I lost 4 out of the 5 chickens I have had total. All in a few weeks. I hope the next 2 I will be getting this weekend and this survivor will last their natural lifetime.
 
Flock restored!
So a friend and I went to pick up our new chickens today. She got 4 and I also got 4. They were all part of the same flock so we know they already get along. When I got home I put the cardboard box in the coop and cut a hole in it so they could get out when they felt secure. The lone chicken listened to them and jumped on a perch to try and see them. The orange one was the first out. She subdued the lone chicken right away, she seems like an Alpha. The others followed a while later and then I took the box out of the coop so they would have more room. They were free ranging birds, it was very hard for the boy who sold them to us to catch them so I won't free range them for a while, if at all. While adapting the chickens to the coop I had the dogs locked in the house. I let them out one by one, but they were totally uninterested in the new chickens. The retriever gave them a sniff and walked away. The chickens went to "hid" behind the board I provided for them and did not run about and flap their wings and make a fuss. This also contributed to the dogs acting not interested.
At dusk they all went up on the perch, the white one was squashed against the side, I hope they make some more room for her.
I hope this flock survives this beginner's mistakes.
Here are some pictures






 
They are lovely! Hope they bring you nothing but enjoyment and lots of eggs!
 
Thanks! I'll see if I can take better pictures tomorrow. I like the fact that each looks different the previous flock had 1 white one and the other were so similar we could hardly tell them apart. I am so happy they settled down quickly, I think that leaving them alone for an hour, and not taking them out of the box, but letting them exit when they felt ready helped them settle down faster. I am on a learning curve, for sure.
 
I've had chickens for about 5-6 years now and I still learn something new now and then!
 
I am sure there is always something to learn! I just wish my mistakes don't hurt any more chickens.
 

A clearer picture of the girls, the black one is the survivor - carob\coco.


2 eggs already, it is nice to buy adults. The last batch were too young or had tiny eggs.



Playing catch the cabbage! The more experienced Carob\Coco started to play and the others just watched her for a while. Then the one on the left (Apple) pecked at her and joined the game. Afterwards Orange (the orange one on the right) joined in. She wasn't as good at the game, needs to work on her coordination! Are there any other fun chicken games? I have to buy more cabbage!
 

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