How do I start a new flock when I have one pullet left from the old?

[kingchick]

Hi. I am a newbie to chickens. I picked up my few day old chicks in March and now 4 of 5 chicks are roos. The seller takes them back, but when I swap them for hens how do I introduce them to one hen I have left? I was thinking, since he has a wide range of varieties all separated I would select one from different breeds so they would all be new to the flock. Is this the right way of thinking? Do they need to be quarantined separately?

Thanks for the help!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, kingchick, and

! Great to have you aboard! A quarantine period is a good idea - and shouldn't be a problem since the newbies are chicks and need to be isolated anyway. Once they are fully feathered you can start to introduce them - do so through a fence or some such barrier where they can have access to each other but not actual physical contact. After several days of that you can coop them together - do so at dark so the littles won't get picked on. At first light (no later so they aren't trapped) open the coop and observe. The hen will likely assume dominance over the newbies but that's to be expected. As long as she doesn't isolate any of them and abuse them you should be good to go. If she does, remove the picked on ones and repeat the process with that chicken(s). Good luck to you!

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Hello and welcome.....so glad you joined BYC

What a great deal to be able to return the roos and pick some different breed pullets. Good luck with the integration

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad to have you aboard!!