New to the chicken world but living it. I inherited 6 chickens when I moved into a small holding and have now been given 6 more. They live in separate barns but when they come out they are like 2 gangs of thugs, so wondering how to introduce them. First set must be over 2 years old, new set are about a year, any advice appreciated
Hi Glad you could join the flock! Here is a nice article on adding new members to your flock https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock The best way I have found is the look but don't touch method. Have the two seperate groups fenced or penned into two seperate runs seperated by wire so they can see each and become aquainted but with out the fighting or the thuggish behaivour. After several weeks you should be able to let them mingle but be on watch with them so you can intervene if it becomes bloody or overly aggressive. Also adding extra feed and water stations when you get them all together is a good idea so no one can be bullied out of feeding and drinking. Wishing you the very best of luck with your growing flock. Be sure to ask all the questions you need to everyone here to help and very friendly. Enjoy BYC
Welcome! I'm glad you joined the BYC "flock". Yorkshire Coop has given you some good advice and a helpful link. Good luck with the introduction!
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to our flock. New chickens have to be introduced to a flock very slowly and carefully. There is a good article on introducing new chickens to a flock at http://poultrykeeper.com/general-chickens/introducing-new-chickens. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in integrating your two flocks.
Hello and welcome to Backyard chickens. When you mentioned them being thugs, I had a humorous thought of chickens with brass knuckles. It wasn't until I started on this site that I discovered not only are chickens adamant about "pecking order," but, they can resort to cannibalism if too crowded , bored or attacking a weak or injured bird. Safe integration of new and old birds is very necessary.
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Yorkshire Coop X2. The "see but no touch" system is the best way. After several weeks of living together like this, the aggression is much less. I like to add more food and water stations too so that the original birds don't starve out the new birds, which can happen. It take several months for new birds to really become accepted. Always intervene if it does turn bloody. Good luck with your new flock and welcome to ours!