How do i intergrate chickens?

[centrarchid]

You can tape together the wing feathers of the flying hen so she wouldn't be able to fly

I am inclined to say doing so is not a good approach. The wings do more than enable flight.

 

[aart]

Quote: How big is your coop(feet by feet)?
Are there other birds in there?

 

[ksandvig]

I just went thru this w my girls I got a new hen & had a tough time the first time I put them together! I had her in a seperation pen for 2 wks & they pexked each other thru fence ect
The first day I let her in it looked like a massacre not a lot of blood but fighting was horrible so I took her back out and the next day put her back in and left the run so they can fight it out between them it wasn't too bad this time and They ended up getting along for the most part. I felt bad for her as one of my gilrs was a bully but they worked it out and all get along now. I would try putting food out for others try to distract them while bringing ithers in & stay out of pen my girl acted like she was jealous when the new one came near me!
Good luck! Btw the gal I got new one from that is why she got rid of her she couldnt introduce them properly & was surprised when I did it!

 

[pmumme]

I've had pretty good luck with this method. I put the new gals, in a large pet carrier with wire door and sides (so they can see each other) into the coop at dusk, when everyone else is in. In the morning (not first thing) when I let them out I make EVERYONE from the old flock go out, and then block the door with hardware cloth. I have plenty of food and water, and a nest box outside the main coop as well as inside. Then I let the new gals out to explore their coop, but they can't get out into the yard, The old gals will come to the door and look in at them. Toward dusk I get in the coop and put the new gals back in their carrier, and take away the door so the old ones can come in. After a day or two of this, I'll try to let the old gals in a bit early, with the new ones still loose, but the pet carrier is still in the coop and open. The new ones will probably hide in the carrier. If some of the old ones ones try to go in and peck them, you may need to close the door of the carrier. By the 3rd day, let everyone out in the yard, with access to the coop too. New ones will travel together but will come back to the coop and into the carrier. Again, if you find that old ones are going into the coop in the evening to beat up on them, close the carrier door at night. By the 4th day, you won't need to do that, and some of the new ones may decide to roost on the roost and not in the carrier! By the time none of the new ones are going into the carrier at night, you can remove it (though they may still be using it as a nest box). Whoever is lowest on the totem pole at that point may roost in a nest box for safety, but let her. In a month they will be one flock. I've not seen much blood this way.

 

[lv2putr]

i would also suggest giving them something to distract them from each other when you put them together. a big head of lettuce, a sliced open pumpkin, pans of cottage cheese or warm oatmeal --- a nice big treat to get their minds off of each other.

 

[lindamiller]

I let my chickens out every night to roam the back yard....I have trained them to stay inside the yard with no fence by using dried meal worms...I put them in a plastic container and when I shake it and call them they come right to me for a treat of the worms....At the same time I call them by just calling them...I just say come girls...then shake the container...when they all arrive, I give them a treat...Now they just know their limits and when I call them ...they come...My neighbors get a big kick out of how well they listen and behave...Dried meal worms are great training device...like any other animal ...give command and reward...

 

[mixflock12]

My experience has been to keep the old flock separated from newbies by fencing for as long as you can.. I took about a month. I was introducing 4 chxs in with 2 others. In this case the 4 were 3 hens 1 rooster to my existing 2 hens. Then on a day I was going to be around to kinda supervise I opened up the fence threw some seed down and let them peck and hang around with each other and one of the new hens and 1 of the old hens went at it but the rooster stepped in.(they were all about the same age) It was wonderful. I never had blood shed. I later had to do it again. This time I had one single hen who had to be separated for along time. I thought I would never be able to get her back in the flock. But as time and patience had it. I did the same thing kept her separated by fence she could see the other chickens being chickens this time I took I must say all summer cause I didn't want a bad ending or experience. And did the same thing. She was fine.. no blood shed either times. I cant say it wasn't stressful for me either. But they all adjusted took some time but best of all no blood shed. This method has worked for me both times.. Time and Patience was the key. This is a mixed flock of barred rock, silkie roo, oprington, aracauna mixes, leghorns and a Maran. Good Luck!

 

[lindamiller]

I Have 10 one year old hens...three Rhode Island Reds, four Leg Horns and three Barred Rocks...They all grew up together since day old chicks. I want to get some new chicks in March and or April...maybe four Easter Eggers or Aracaunas...not sure I spelled that right? I want some colored eggs...I'm working on my coop now so I can house them side by side until they get use to each other...The babies will be inside until they are old enough and it's warm enough to be out side. I'm hoping they will eventually be able to be mixed and in the same coop. I let them out every afternoon, early evening to free range and spend time with them. They are very well behaved and social...Hopefully they will all get along together so by the end of summer they will be one big happy family! Any thoughts out there?

 

[Cyrus83]

I think letting them hash it out in an open area is the best way, or leave the meanest one in a cage and let the others just roam around that cage in the yard, that's how I've introduced my roos to the hens.

 

[Cyrus83]

My bossiest hen (Oprah), has always been the instigator to new birds, but its like a gang initiation, once she whoops em their in. Except the two roosters, they gave her a taste of her own medicine. And then a fox gave them some medicine, then I gave the fox lead poisoning. So Oprahs back in charge for now.