How do I introduce several chickens (not chicks) to my flock

[btbuster]

Yep, that makes great sense!!

But.... it will not be a true biological quarantine, just an integration separation, you need them quite a distance apart for a true bio QT.
Read about medical quarantine in the links in my other post above.

When you remove the coop partition, I'd leave the temporary roost (and the extra feed/water) for a while, until you see them all using the main roosts.
It will remove 2 sources of stress(sustenance and sleep) from the flock integration.

Having a coop partition was priceless when I had to separate a nasty cockerel last winter and when I added new chicks this spring.
I left the partition roost up and the littlers all used for a few weeks, then lo and behold they started roosting with the older birds in the main coop.


I don't 'do' crawling anymore either, laughed hard at that one!

I know, it's not a true biological quarantine. But it's all I can really do at this time. I just pray it all works out.
I like your suggestion about leaving the roost up for a while, I hadn't thought of that. I did plan on leaving the food and water out.
I really haven't had a chance to even get a good look at these new chickens. One of my friends is a 'bird nurse' (she works for the local bird doctor).
I think I will ask her to come by and examine the chickens. (she lives right around the corner from me - so convenient)
Then I'll know more of what they might need. I really really appreciate everyone's help in this. Thanks so much.

 

[aart]

I think most folks can't really quarantine.....It's just a chance you've got to take.

How nice to have an avian vet nearby!

Great setup....you'll be glad in the future you've got the option.

Best of luck to ya...let us know how it works out.

 

[btbuster]

Just an update...Wednesday morning I went to see how they were doing, and to let them out in the run.
Got a bit of a shock too... I discovered that 2 or 3 of the chickens had kind of crusty feet. (grumble, grumble...)
Did a bunch of research, found they probably had leg mites. Immediately I went out, with a big jar of Vaseline, (and disposable gloves on) I thoroughly greased all of the chicken's feet, all the way up to the feathers.

It was a bit funny, because at first they would squawk (and screech) but the minute I started rubbing their feet they instantly calmed down. Of course, I figured that if someone was gently rubbing my feet and moisturizing them, I would instantly calm down too!!

Then I changed gloves and went on the other side of the coop and treated all my chickens too, just in case.
I'm glad the temporary coop was all cleaned out, new and fresh everything, and that I dusted them before they went in. I did dust the nests and floor, and put some Sweet PDZ under the roost. I like to clean up after the chickens every day and that stuff is awesome. I takes only a minute or two.

Yesterday, when I looked at their feet, I was amazed at the difference, in just one day I could see a difference. I will continue treating to be sure we don't have that problem hang around.

This morning it rained,....so my husband went and built a roof over part of the run. (we planned on doing that - eventually. We just got it done a little quicker.) It matches the roof on the chicken coop. (metal roof, nothing fancy smancy). All the chickens are out now (in their respective parts) My chickens haven't paid hardly any attention to the new arrivals. The new chickens seem to be calming down, getting used to the place, and scratching away. So far, so good......

 

[btbuster]

Update:

Tomorrow night will be one week since we got the new chickens. I may be worrying too much - and I'm sure there is an adjustment period of time, but..... I'm worried.

While these chickens are running around, scratching and digging in the run, etc - they don't seem to be eating out of the feeder. They will eat the vegetable scraps that I give both sets of chickens each day. But that's not enough to sustain them. (It's more like a treat) But I've only seen one hen at the feeder. In desperation the other day I just emptied the whole thing in their run. I wanted to be sure they were getting enough food. They went and ate it all.

Also, from the 7 hens, I've only gotten 2 eggs. Maybe this is normal when you relocate chickens. Is it?

One interesting thing is that my original chickens don't even seem to notice them. They are not curious, like at the fence between them in the garden, nor in the coop. I'm hoping that is a good sign that we won't have any squabbles when we take the barrier down. This is definitely a work in progress here. Thanks for all your suggestions too.

 

[aart]

Is it a hanging feeder?
Maybe put it down on the ground for a bit, raising it slowly as they figure it out?

 

[btbuster]

Is it a hanging feeder?
Maybe put it down on the ground for a bit, raising it slowly as they figure it out?

When we picked them up I noticed they did have a very large hanging feeder. Unfortunately we never thought of asking if we could have it. This one is a smaller feeder. But you know, I'm going to try that out. Thanks for the suggestion.

On a side note, I've been looking at a bunch of home made feeders using 5-gallon buckets.... and my husband is a painter (houses, not art), so it wouldn't be hard at all for him to make one or two. We have buckets galore, so many we've even given a lot away. And if you clean them right away, removing any paint residue, they look like-new. I'll just have to remind him not to toss the lids. When my (original) chickens eat out of the feeder I have now, they flick a lot of the food out. These other feeders seem to eliminate the waste. Of course, they'll have to get used to it... I may be back to square one. haha!