how do introduce new chickens to my flock

[AceOfSpadesJJ]

i have 2 leghorns and they are trying to fight 1 of my new hens but it is though a wire run the leghorns are trying to peck the new one!! i want to mix them together how do i introduce them???

 

[Judy]

There will always be some pecking when new chickens are added, as they reestablish a pecking order. Your fence between them is a great first step in introducing new ones. Just keep an eye out for blood -- and if you can identify a lead bully and the pecking is too rough, just isolate the bully for a week or so, preferably out of sight of the flock. Then when she is returned, she becomes the new guy, and is therefore at the low end of the pecking order.

Lots of space, hiding places, an extra feeder and waterer set away from the other one, any distraction such as treats or new things to jump or climb on, can all help. A cabbage hung so it bounces around when pecked, or a flock block, can occupy them for a while.

 

[CAjerseychick]

There will always be some pecking when new chickens are added, as they reestablish a pecking order. Your fence between them is a great first step in introducing new ones. Just keep an eye out for blood -- and if you can identify a lead bully and the pecking is too rough, just isolate the bully for a week or so, preferably out of sight of the flock. Then when she is returned, she becomes the new guy, and is therefore at the low end of the pecking order.

Lots of space, hiding places, an extra feeder and waterer set away from the other one, any distraction such as treats or new things to jump or climb on, can all help. A cabbage hung so it bounces around when pecked, or a flock block, can occupy them for a while.

flockwatcher, any additional advice when it is 15 little ones (4 weeks) to 4 (7-8 weeks) older to introduce?

 

[Mrs. K]

Wait, till the 4 weekers are another six weeks old, there will not be such a size difference by then, and then by introducing several, it upsets the whole apple cart, and there is lots of reorganization, but it is not as bad as trying to add just one chicken. When you add just one chicken, that chicken has no buddies, and EVERYONE will pick on that hen. The only way I would add a single chicken to a flock is if he was an adult rooster, and there was a flock of hens that did not have a roo. Otherwise it can be pretty tough.

With a bunch of chicks put together, everyone is in a free for all, everyone is getting a peck here or there, but no one chick is taking it all, or should not be.

Intragation is touch, that is why I use a broody hen

MrsK

 

[AceOfSpadesJJ]

thax for info

 

[marianne7]

i have 2 leghorns and they are trying to fight 1 of my new hens but it is though a wire run the leghorns are trying to peck the new one!! i want to mix them together how do i introduce them???

We tried absolutely everything......we had four chickens, and wanted to introduce another three to the flock, they were almost pecked to death....we tried all the tricks that everyone told us..ie: cover them in powder, or put them in a small box so they will bond etc etc...its the smell with chickens...if newbies come in and they smell different the other birds will automatically attack then, chickens are alsoy territorial animals..How we dit it ..we separated them (the four from the new three) for a few days, then we put one of the Four chickens (top chicken) in with the newbies, after a few days added another one of the four...and so on...once the top chicken has accepted the newbies and the smell is the same, the others will usually follow ....bit of a pain i know....also when you buy new chickens, always make them sleep together in the coop at night (separate them in the day) this allows the smell to get on the newbies a lot quicker, you will have some pecking, but not as much as you do if you just put them all in together and leave them to fight it out - hope the helps

 

[CAjerseychick]

We tried absolutely everything......we had four chickens, and wanted to introduce another three to the flock, they were almost pecked to death....we tried all the tricks that everyone told us..ie: cover them in powder, or put them in a small box so they will bond etc etc...its the smell with chickens...if newbies come in and they smell different the other birds will automatically attack then, chickens are alsoy territorial animals..How we dit it ..we separated them (the four from the new three) for a few days, then we put one of the Four chickens (top chicken) in with the newbies, after a few days added another one of the four...and so on...once the top chicken has accepted the newbies and the smell is the same, the others will usually follow ....bit of a pain i know....also when you buy new chickens, always make them sleep together in the coop at night (separate them in the day) this allows the smell to get on the newbies a lot quicker, you will have some pecking, but not as much as you do if you just put them all in together and leave them to fight it out - hope the helps

I have not heard this one before very helpful ( not my thread but have similar situation)....

 

[CAjerseychick]

Wait, till the 4 weekers are another six weeks old, there will not be such a size difference by then, and then by introducing several, it upsets the whole apple cart, and there is lots of reorganization, but it is not as bad as trying to add just one chicken. When you add just one chicken, that chicken has no buddies, and EVERYONE will pick on that hen. The only way I would add a single chicken to a flock is if he was an adult rooster, and there was a flock of hens that did not have a roo. Otherwise it can be pretty tough.

With a bunch of chicks put together, everyone is in a free for all, everyone is getting a peck here or there, but no one chick is taking it all, or should not be.

Intragation is touch, that is why I use a broody hen

MrsK

That makes alot of sense, thanks for the info...just dont know if I have the patience/space to keep them separate for another.... 6 weeks.. Maybe I will take the oldest 4 (now 3 d/t Dog) and keep them seperate and then intro Them back into the Run...

 

[Bekalynn]

I am also trying introduce two newbies to my flock of four hens and a roo. My older hens are 6 months old my roo is a month older my little girls are 2 and a half month. I started by putting them in a kennle inside the coop so everybody can see each other. Then i sectioned off my coop so the little ones have more room and can mingle with the big ones threw chicken wire. Sometimes either the big ones or the little ones will fly over the wire the roo dont pay any attention to the little guys but my hens will chase them and peck at them. I dont think they are hurtting the little ones just scareing them. How can i get them to just get along so i can open the whole coop to everybody. And why does the roo show no interest. They even walk right under him and he dont care but he will stomp his feet at the older ones.

 

[Den in Penn]

I am also trying introduce two newbies to my flock of four hens and a roo. My older hens are 6 months old my roo is a month older my little girls are 2 and a half month. I started by putting them in a kennle inside the coop so everybody can see each other. Then i sectioned off my coop so the little ones have more room and can mingle with the big ones threw chicken wire. Sometimes either the big ones or the little ones will fly over the wire the roo dont pay any attention to the little guys but my hens will chase them and peck at them. I dont think they are hurtting the little ones just scareing them. How can i get them to just get along so i can open the whole coop to everybody. And why does the roo show no interest. They even walk right under him and he dont care but he will stomp his feet at the older ones.

An older hen will express her desire to be higher on the pecking order, and that means they will peck at a younger one to tell them so. If the younger ones have the means to get out of the older ones way it will eventually settle down. If they are getting together now and all the older ones are doing is scaring them, teaching the their place, it sounds as if you are almost there. Leave them together some time when you can watch, if all there is is some light pecking your there.