How do I add 1 chicken to my flock?

[Cclark1321]

I have a flock of 3 chickens (2 cream legbars and 1 barred rock). They are about 14 weeks old. I would like to introduce one 6 week old speckled Sussex to the flock. Any suggestions? We have a 4x6 coop (see attached pic) that has Inside and outside space and they free range when my dogs are not outside. Help! Thanks!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Introducing one is HARD. Esp when it's smaller and younger. If you can break up the three you have and team it up with one in isolation until they've bonded then mix the two mini flocks, it might go ok.

But honestly, I'm not sure you have room for another one if I'm understanding the size of your coop. if the whole structure (coop and run) is only 24 sq feet, you already have more birds than it can reasonably hold.

 

[Cclark1321]

Thanks. The farm from which I purchased my chickens and coop say that I can get 4-6 chickens in the coop, but I have the same size concerns. Breaking up the 3 is a good idea if I had the space though. How long would you break them up until they could be together?

 

[kuchchicks]

Is there some sort of "formula" you can use to know how many chickens you should keep in your coop?

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Is there some sort of "formula" you can use to know how many chickens you should keep in your coop?

Yes, you want roughly 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and 10 sq feet per bird in the run (more is always better). From what I've seen, almost all prefab coops actually hold about half the birds advertised.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Thanks. The farm from which I purchased my chickens and coop say that I can get 4-6 chickens in the coop, but I have the same size concerns. Breaking up the 3 is a good idea if I had the space though. How long would you break them up until they could be together?

At least a week or two. You could also try the see no touch method. Put the new one in a dog crate inside or beside the current pen during the day for a couple of weeks and then introduce them while free ranging when they're all used to one another and the newbie has grown a little more.

 

[Cclark1321]

Thanks ! I really appreciate it!

 

[sideWing]

I'm pretty new to chicken keeping so take this with a grain of salt.

I purchased a group of Sexlinks, some EE/leghorn mixes, and two weeks later I got 6 wyandottes. The sexlinks mature FAST and started picking on the slower feathering EE mixes shoulders. I separated them with a wire fence that they could see each other through, but lived seperate. As they feathered out I moved them over with the sexlinks. I think the fact that they could see each other made them feel like it wasn't a new chicken in the flock by the time I moved them over. I do the same thing with each new bird and it's worked out great.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

I'm pretty new to chicken keeping so take this with a grain of salt.

I purchased a group of Sexlinks, some EE/leghorn mixes, and two weeks later I got 6 wyandottes. The sexlinks mature FAST and started picking on the slower feathering EE mixes shoulders. I separated them with a wire fence that they could see each other through, but lived seperate. As they feathered out I moved them over with the sexlinks. I think the fact that they could see each other made them feel like it wasn't a new chicken in the flock by the time I moved them over. I do the same thing with each new bird and it's worked out great.

Yep. That's basic "see no touch". The one time I tried it, my cockerel when CRAZY and rubbed his comb bloody against the hardware cloth, but it works for a lot of people.