Got my chickens!

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Jessichick

Jessichick

In the Brooder
7 Years
Oct 1, 2012
24
0
22
Just got 2 hens yesterday. We bought them and a coop off craigslist. They are super fun and i am already dreaming of coop upgrades! Our girls aren't super friendly, but still very sweet. The kids are loving them and I can already see why everyone says chickens are addicting.
We might get some chicks next Spring. Any good tips on introducing them? I have heard it is not easy.
 
Greetings from Kansas, Jessichick, and
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! Congrats on the new chicks and coop!
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Always an exciting time!! When you add new chicks in the spring make sure they are an adequate size to be able to get away from the established birds. Make sure there is plenty of space as overcrowding makes for aggression and the newbies will be the recipients. Try to introduce the new ones visually - in another pen where the birds can meet each other but can't get picked on. Do this for a few days. When you do incorporate the new ones, put them in the coop with the others at dark as everyone calms down a lot at night and won't be aggressive in the dark. That way they wake up together. And let them out at daybreak so the older birds don't bully the now confined newbies. Others will have advice as well I'm sure. Good luck to you!!
 
Welcome to BYC Jessichick

If you do a search for introducing new chickens to flock, you should get lots of hints.

some basics: introduce more than 1 at a time.
Quarantine,
After quarantine, have them where they can see each other but can't touch.
Put new ones in coop at dark - the chickens smell them over the course of the night so when they can see them in the morning they are already familiar.
Add new ones of similar age/size.
Put everyone in a new coop so everyone is on strange yet equal footing. (not always possible)

I'm sure there's more but that's what's coming into my brain right now

CG
 
Hello and welcome to BYC
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Glad you joined us!
 

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