Help!!

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi! Many of you probably have read about my chickens. Well, in case you haven't I have three adult chickens. Gracie and Sunnie are buff orps and Quanie is an ameracana. They are three years old. I then have two six week old pullets. Daisy is another buff orp and Rosie is a speckled sussex. So here's the deal: My grandma is giving a bantam cochin named Mary to me who is one year old. I'll be going out to get her in about a week. My question is, would it be better to introduce Mary to Daisy and Rosie first before introducing to the others? Or should I introduce them all at the same time?? I know I need to quarantine Mary before any introducing though.

Any other advice would be great!!

I've raised chickens for a number of years but have never done anything like this before.

 

[Aacre]

If it were me, I would introduce them all at the same time. Less stress on the chickens because they will have to go through pecking orders every time. I think if you introduced them at the same time, it would split up the overall stress.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thanks a bunch!! Anyone else?

 

[distincthead]

I agree with Aacre - less stress overall, and also less stress for you.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thanks!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Anyone else??

I'm really curious!!!

 

[Den in Penn]

I would introduce Mary to the two chicks firs, when they are about the same size as her. They should be about right when she comes out of quarantine. Then introduce the two groups. By introducing a single chicken to a large group allows the group to focus on the single hen. If I had the option I would not do that to a hen. By doing the chicks first its an adult vs. tow juveniles, fairly even odds. then the two groups at introduction would be even in numbers. Again better odds then one vs. six

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Y

I would introduce Mary to the two chicks firs, when they are about the same size as her.  They should be about right when she comes out of quarantine. Then introduce the two groups.  By introducing a single chicken to a large group allows the group to focus on the single hen.  If I had the option I would not do that to a hen.  By doing the chicks first its an adult vs. tow juveniles, fairly even odds.  then the two groups at introduction would be even in numbers.  Again better odds then one vs. six

Yeah that's one of the reasons we were going to get Mary is because then it would be three against three. And like you said, the chicks will be about her size since she is a bantam once she is done being quaratineed. Do you think we should just put Mary in with the chicks at night?

 

[Den in Penn]

I would try to do a day of through the wire first.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I would try to do a day of through the wire first.

K. Thanks again!!